Praise has different effects, according to the mind it meets with; it makes a wise man modest, but a fool more arrogant, turning his weak brain giddy.—Feltham.
Solid pudding against empty praise.—Pope.
It is always esteemed the greatest mischief a man can do to those whom he loves, to raise men's expectations of them too high by undue and impertinent commendations.—Sprat.
Speak not in high commendation of any man to his face, nor censure any man behind his back; but if thou knowest anything good of him, tell it unto others; if anything ill, tell it privately and prudently to himself.—Burkitt.
As the Greek said, "Many men know how to flatter, few men know how to praise."—Wendell Phillips.
It is singular how impatient men are with overpraise of others, how patient of overpraise of themselves; and yet the one does them no injury, while the other may be their ruin.—Lowell.
Good things should be praised.—Shakespeare.
He hurts me most who lavishly commends.—Churchill.
The love of praise, howe'er concealed by art,
Reigns more or less and glows in every heart.
—Young.
Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity. It becomes cheap as it becomes vulgar, and will no longer raise expectation or animate enterprise.—Dr. Johnson.