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Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.

Richard Steele

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Richard Steele
Age: 57 †
Born: 1672
Born: March 12
Died: 1729
Died: September 1
Journalist
Playwright
Politician
Writer
Dublin city
Sir Richard Steele
Admiration
Add
Whenever
Sycophants
Reasons
Approbation
Fool
Commend
Sense
Distinguishes
Reason
Flattery
Men
Fools

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Conversation never sits easier upon us than when we now and then discharge ourselves in a symphony of laughter, which may not improperly be called the chorus of conversation.
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I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me
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A favor well bestowed is almost as great an honor to him who confers it as to him who receives it.
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It may be remarked in general, that the laugh of men of wit is for the most part but a feint, constrained kind of half-laugh, as such persons are never without some diffidence about them but that of fools is the most honest, natural, open laugh in the world.
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Pride destroys all symmetry and grace, and affectation is a more terrible enemy to fine faces than the small-pox.
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It is to beoted that when any part of this paper appears dull there is a design in it.
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The man is mechanically turned, and made for getting. . . . It was verily prettily said that we may learn the little value of fortune by the persons on whom Heaven is pleased to bestow it.
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Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.
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Simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copy.
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When a man is not disposed to hear music, there is not a more disagreeable sound in harmony than that of the violin.
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The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.
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He that has sense knows that learning is not knowledge, but rather the art of using it.
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Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honor and a gentleman, and must take the place of pleasures, profits and all other private gratifications.
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The praise of an ignorant man is only good-will, and you should receive his kindness as he is a good neighbor in society, and not as a good judge of your actions in point of fame and reputation.
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Violins are the lively, forward, importunate wits, that distinguish themselves by the flourishes of imagination, sharpness of repartee, glances of satire, and bear away the upper part in every consort.
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The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce inferior to the hopes of the continuance of his own life.
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Though her mien carries much more invitation than command, to behold her is an immediate check to loose behaviour to love her was a liberal education.
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I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.
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A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.
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I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him
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