Flatterers
group · 3 works · 3 mentions · 3 anchored passages
flatterers · flattery · men of no consequence · those who always and by choice speak to please · those who say what you desire · those who seek to gratify you
in the texts
On the Peace
Speakers who win favor by pleasing the people rather than advising what benefits the city.
And yet, if you really desired to find out what is advantageous to the state, you ought to give your attention more to those who oppose your views than to those who seek to gratify you, knowing well that of the orators who come before you here, those who say what you desire are able to delude you easily—since what is spoken to win favor clouds your vision of what is best—whereas those who advise y …
Wherefore one may justly take you to task because, while you know well that many great houses have been ruined by flatterers and while in your private affairs you abhor those who practice this art, in your public affairs you are not so minded towards them;
nevertheless, as though you had clear knowledge of what must be done, you are not willing to listen to any except those who speak for your pleasure.
To Antipater
People who seek favor by pleasing rulers rather than speaking useful truth.
For it stands to reason that it is because of those who always and by choice speak to please that not only monarchies cannot endure—since monarchies are liable to numerous inevitable dangers—but even constitutional governments as well, though they enjoy greater security:
because of his frankness of speech in matters involving their best interests he has been both deprived of honors he had at home and cheated of many hopes elsewhere, and the flattery of men of no consequence had greater weight than his own good services.
To Dionysius
People who please a ruler through flattery, contrasted with people who offer advice.
And yet, certain persons who have been admitted to your presence have attempted to frighten me, saying that while you honor flatterers, you despise those who offer you advice.