WIST Quotations Has Moved!Dec 11

A quotation from Josh Billings

Flattery iz like colone water, tew be smelt ov, not swallered.
 
[Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt of, not swallowed.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1870-02 (1870 ed.)

More about this quote: wist.info/billings-josh/1045/

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Josh Billings' Farmer's Allminax, 1870-02 (1870 ed.) - Billings, Josh | WIST Quotations

Flattery iz like colone water, tew be smelt ov, not swallered. [Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt of, not swallowed.] This passage can be originally found in column material, e.g., in the Middlesex County Journal (Massachusetts) (1969-07-10), "Sollum Thoughts": Flattery is like kolone water, tew be smelt ov,…

WIST Quotations
WIST Quotations Has Moved!Aug 21, 2025

A quotation from Ben Franklin

The cringing Train of Pow’r, survey;
What Creatures are so low as they!
With what obsequiousness they bend!
To what vile actions condescend!
Their Rise is on their Meanness built,
And Flatt’ry is their smallest Guilt.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1741 ed.)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/franklin-benjamin/78…

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