The reason that adulation is not displeasing is that, though untrue, it shows one to be of consequence enough, in one way or other, to induce people to lie. – Lord (George Gordon) Byron

Many lick before they bite. – Proverb

If we did not flatter ourselves the flattery from others would not harm us. – Proverb

The flattery of posterity is not worth much more than contemporary flattery, which is worth nothing. – Jorge Luis Borges