Flattery is an excessive and insincere praise, given to further one's own interests. Unlike sincere compliments, flattery is oriented towards personal gain rather than genuine admiration.
Richard Stengel characterizes flattery as strategic praise. The main issue in flattery lies not in its truthfulness, but in the absence of sincerity from the flatterer.
Flattery lacks moral and psychological depth, often smoothing over relationships superficially. It derives from the notion of 'flattening down,' reflecting its insincerity and lack of depth.
Yuval Eylon and David Heyd emphasize that flattery is more about serving one's interests than genuinely valuing the other person, distinguishing it from true admiration.
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