Quote by Sir Richard Steele

I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.

I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of givi

Summary

This quote means that praising someone while simultaneously adding a criticism or exception can be extremely offensive. It suggests that offering praise but then negating it with a caveat undermines the positive sentiment behind the praise, potentially hurting the recipient's feelings. Instead, it implies that it is better to either offer genuine praise without any exceptions or to constructively express concerns separately.

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By Sir Richard Steele

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