Seduced by a flatterer?
Compliments are a powerful tool for building relationships. Flattery is a powerful tool for destroying them. While we may initially be seduced by a flatterer, it is only a matter of time before his charm wears off and we realize how empty and even insulting his words are. I like to hear nice things about myself as much as anybody else, but I want to be taken seriously and don't like to be served with illusions.
Avoid flatterers, because they are thieves in disguise.
- William Penn
Flattery is all right if you don't inhale.
- Adlai E. Stevenson
Bruno's commentary
But if someone says something nice to you, does that mean he is insincere? Certainly not. But how do you know if it's a compliment or flattery? Well, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Your best ally in differentiating between the two is your gut feeling. When something particularly delicious is said to you, be careful and ask yourself what is really on the speaker's mind and what his true intentions are. Playing the charmer might be a good sales pitch, but not with you, right?
A friend just told me this is the best Bruno's Minute I have ever written. Sounds good, but I'm not going to inhale it . . .