The publicity with which a woman will receive admiration from a male admirer 144 often is sufficient to astonish that admirer. But
Often enough it is the admiration, not the admirer, that a woman covets.
Indeed,
Many a woman is in love with love (3), but not her lover. But this no lover can be got to comprehend.
To flatter by deprecating a rival is a complement of extremely doubtful efficacy.
(3) I seem to remember that somebody before has said something like this before.
* * *
A woman does not admire too clement a conqueror. She admits the right to ovation, and to him who waives it she lightly regards.
* * *
Seek no stepping-stones unless you mean to cross:
He who gathers stepping-stones and refrains from crossing is contempted of women. Indeed,