quotations about praise
Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract makes him a severe critic on his own works.
JOHN KEATS
letter to James Hessey, October 9, 1818
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
JOSEPH ADDISON
Cato
It is a point of good manners to praise, if manners be founded in good feeling; for good praising bestows much pleasure. A Frenchman defined politeness as an art to keep one person from knowing that we prefer another person--surely a gentle and reasonable account of good manners, since it would make a unit of all companies and leave our preferences or endearments where they belong, to private moments. So likewise it will be gentle manners if we keep another from thinking that he gives us no pleasure or merits not our approval, or that we hold ourselves above him in any way; and this can be done by good praising, for which we must gather, with both kind intention and sincere judgment, the things in which he has done well. So far good manners carry; but, furthermore, we must praise if we will be either generous or honest. Emerson says, and nobly, "Our very abstaining to repeat and credit a fine remark of our friend is thievish." If it be selfish not to give what we can, and fraudulent to withhold what another has earned, then to be unmindful of praising is ungenerous, to be unwilling is dishonest. Some persons are so thievish, indeed, and such collectors for themselves, that they deem praise bestowed on others as so much withheld from their own merits; but this is a base and miserly envy, which can glorify no other's virtue without avaricious pain.
JAMES VILA BLAKE
"Of Praising", Essays
The praise we seek for our own virtues sometimes tempts us to flatter the imperfections of other men.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
NORMAN VINCENT PEALE
The Power of Positive Thinking
PRAISE is the reflection of virtue; but it is as the glass or body, which giveth the reflection. If it be from the common people, it is commonly false and naught; and rather followeth vain persons, than virtuous. For the common people understand not many excellent virtues. The lowest virtues draw praise from them; the middle virtues work in them astonishment or admiration; but of the highest virtues, they have no sense of perceiving at all. But shows, and species virtutibus similes, serve best with them. Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid. But if persons of quality and judgment concur, then it is (as the Scripture saith) nomen bonum instar unguenti fragrantis. It fireth all round about, and will not easily away. For the odors of ointments are more durable, than those of flowers.
FRANCIS BACON
"Of Praise", Essays, or Counsels Civil and Moral
A puff of wind and popular praise weigh alike.
HUNGARIAN PROVERB