"Flattery is a kind of bad money, to which our vanity gives us currency"

This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld is a caution versus the dangers of flattery. He compares flattery to bad cash, which is a recommendation to counterfeit money that is unworthy its stated value. He is stating that flattery is not genuine and ought to not be taken seriously. He also suggests that our vanity makes us prone to flattery, as we are more likely to believe it if it is flattering. This quote is a suggestion that we should be wary of flattery and not take it at stated value. We should understand our own vanity and not let it cloud our judgement. Flattery can be an effective tool, however it must not be taken too seriously. We ought to understand our own vanity and be careful not to be taken in by flattery.