Meaning & Analysis
Someone who offers excessive praise is often doing so to entice others into buying or accepting what they are selling.
Insights
Self-Interest in Flattery
This proverb highlights that praise is frequently motivated by personal gain rather than genuine admiration—compliments may be a sales tactic, not sincere opinion.
Manipulation and Persuasion
Praise is employed as a persuasive tool, a rhetorical device intended to influence another’s judgment, especially in commerce, relationships, or negotiations.
Distrust of Motivated Praise
Warns listeners to be skeptical of praise that serves an ulterior motive, suggesting that commendation is often calculated rather than heartfelt.
Historical Symbolism
Since antiquity, merchants and intermediaries have been caricatured as excessive praisers of their wares—so much so that their praise loses credibility. The proverb reflects longstanding suspicions of the transactional nature of flattery.
Literary Resonance
Shakespeare and his contemporaries repeatedly use the motif of seller’s praise as a symbol of insincerity and commercial cunning, as in 'Love’s Labour’s Lost' and 'Troilus and Cressida.'
Psychological Dimensions
Addresses the human tendency to trust positive feedback, while reminding us to question the sincerity and source—especially when praise aligns with the praiser’s self-interest.
Cultural Parallels
Similar proverbs exist globally (e.g., 'A merchant’s praise is not to be trusted'), showing universal wariness toward praise linked to personal advantage.
Rhetorical Devices
Irony
The proverb’s apparent endorsement of praise is actually an ironic warning, alerting us to the self-serving motives behind compliments.
Metonymy
‘Sell’ is used metonymically for any situation in which personal gain is at stake—not only literal commerce but also social or romantic exchanges.
Ellipsis
The compact phrase omits the object of praise, making the warning general and applicable to many contexts.
Transcription
Quotations
What's his price . . He'll tell [sell?] himself he has so prais'd his shape.
I thinke you would gladly sell whom you have so lately bought, else you would never have spoake him thus.
You praise her, as if you had a mind to part with her.
It has no other Father but you.
when People commend what they are selling.
Shakespeare Citations
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not utt'red by base sale of chapmen's tongues.
Fie! painted rhetoric—O, she needs it not! To things of sale a seller's praise belongs.
But we in silence hold this virtue well, We'll not commend what we intend to sell.
I will not praise that purpose not to sell.
That love is merchandiz'd whose rich esteem-ing The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere.
Do not smile at me that I boast her off, For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise And make it halt behind her . . Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition worthily purchas'd, take my daughter.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.