ON
JUDICIOUS FLATTERY
-- Richard
Steele
“On Judicious Flattery” is an essay written by famous
English essayist Richard Steele. In this essay, he elaborately discusses on
various aspects of flattery and different kinds of flatterers. His essay is
marked by realism than by any attempt of moralizing. His essay presents his keen observation of
men and manners. His thoughts are clear. It is a satirical essay on some
real-life characters and their behaviours.
Steele says that flattery is a great art of a few people.
Steele mentions about a type of flatterer who is an injudicious civilian.
Flattery is part of their eloquence.
Flattery doesn’t require any preparation. Such flatterers praise others
on different things without any coherence. They praise everything from age to
dress of the persons.
According to Steele, an agreeable flatterer is one who does
not have great qualities but is above great imperfections. He should be
inferior to the man whom he flatters.
Such flatterers are the great benefactors of the rich. A good flatterer
never contradicts others, but gains their support. They don’t praise in broad
terms. But they support whatever the other party proposes or utters.
Steele says that most of the people like to be flattered by
others. It is an ingrained quality of human beings. Receiving flattery is like
receiving free money. Every man thinks himself as a reputed person. So, he will
be glad to receive flattery.
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