Eleanor Hamilton

"A compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly, unless you want to hurt the giver." -- Eleanor Hamilton

In other words, if someone pays you a compliment, don't just shrug it off, but acknowledge it with thanks. Otherwise you may offend the giver of the compliment.

---

George Santayana, philosopher

To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

I agree with two out of three, but I don't think anyone, even a soldier, should delight in war. I would agree rather that for a soldier to delight in battle is probably a good thing.

---

Norman Douglas, novelist

You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements. -Norman Douglas, novelist (1868-1952)

Scary as it is, I suspect this is true. But advertising is a relatively recent development, so it is really hard to say how true it is, viewed longitudinally. On the other hand, it would be very interesting to compare advertising around the world over the last few decades to see if it reveals, as some contend, a growing homogenization of culture.

---