"Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity"
About this Quote
Praise becomes potent by refusing to be cheap. Johnson’s line is a neat piece of moral economics: admiration functions like a currency, and inflation ruins it. Compare that to the modern world’s “likes,” participation trophies, and algorithmic applause, where approval is abundant, frictionless, and therefore oddly weightless. Johnson is arguing that praise doesn’t merely describe merit; it creates perceived worth. If everyone is praised for everything, praise stops distinguishing anything.
The simile matters. Gold and diamonds aren’t valuable because they’re useful day to day; they’re valuable because they are limited, difficult to obtain, and socially agreed upon as status. Johnson quietly drags praise into the same, slightly suspicious category. It suggests that complimenting is never innocent: it’s a transaction involving reputation, hierarchy, and the giver’s credibility. A compliment from someone stingy with approval can elevate you; a compliment from a serial flatterer can feel like spam.
Context sharpens the cynicism. Johnson lived in a culture of patronage and salons, where writers navigated fragile networks of nobles, editors, and rivals. Praise could be a sincere judgment, but it could also be a bid for favor or a polite lie required by social etiquette. By tying praise to scarcity, Johnson is defending standards - and exposing how often “encouragement” is really social lubrication.
The subtext is a warning to both sides: don’t crave constant applause, and don’t hand it out thoughtlessly. The rare compliment, like a precious stone, doesn’t just sparkle; it cuts.
The simile matters. Gold and diamonds aren’t valuable because they’re useful day to day; they’re valuable because they are limited, difficult to obtain, and socially agreed upon as status. Johnson quietly drags praise into the same, slightly suspicious category. It suggests that complimenting is never innocent: it’s a transaction involving reputation, hierarchy, and the giver’s credibility. A compliment from someone stingy with approval can elevate you; a compliment from a serial flatterer can feel like spam.
Context sharpens the cynicism. Johnson lived in a culture of patronage and salons, where writers navigated fragile networks of nobles, editors, and rivals. Praise could be a sincere judgment, but it could also be a bid for favor or a polite lie required by social etiquette. By tying praise to scarcity, Johnson is defending standards - and exposing how often “encouragement” is really social lubrication.
The subtext is a warning to both sides: don’t crave constant applause, and don’t hand it out thoughtlessly. The rare compliment, like a precious stone, doesn’t just sparkle; it cuts.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
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