"Flattery and insults raise the same question: What do you want?"

This quote by Mason Cooley suggests that when somebody flatters or insults us, we should take an action back and ask ourselves what the other individual desires. It suggests that both flattery and insults are typically used as a way to an end, which we need to know this. It motivates us to be conscious of our interactions with others and to be familiar with their intentions. It also suggests that we should be wary of individuals who utilize flattery or insults to control us into doing something they want. Eventually, this quote motivates us to be conscious of our interactions with others and to be knowledgeable about their motives. It advises us to be knowledgeable about the power dynamics in our relationships and to be conscious of how we are being dealt with.