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I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.

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
Closing
Offensive
Exception
Manner
Speaking
Praise
Giving

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I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him
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Though very troublesome to others, anger is most so to him that has it.
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I was going home two hours ago, but was met by Mr. Griffith, who has kept me ever since. . . . I will come within a pint of wine.
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A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.
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A Woman is naturally more helpless than the other Sex and a Man of Honour and Sense should have this in his View in all Manner of Commerce with her.
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It is a very melancholy reflection that men are usually so weak that it is absolutely necessary for them to know sorrow and pain to be in their right senses.
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Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable fortitude to dare to be ugly.
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Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pouts when it is ill-treated, it pines, it beseeches, it languishes.
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Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.
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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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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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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.
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I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker.
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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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It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.
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Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.
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Simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copy.
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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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He that has sense knows that learning is not knowledge, but rather the art of using it.
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Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.
Richard Steele