Flattery is a kind of bad money, to which our vanity gives us currency.

We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the manner in which it is done. [Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que a maniere de flatter.]

Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner.

We say little if not egged on by vanity. [Fr., On parle peu quand la vanite ne fait pas parler.]

That which makes the vanity of others unbearable to us is that which wounds our own. [Fr., Ce qui nous rend la vanite des autres insupportable, c'est qu'elle blesse la notre.]