“Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver”

Simplified Meaning:

When someone gives false compliments to make another person feel good, it harms both people involved. The person receiving the fake praise may start believing things that are not true about themselves and become arrogant or make poor decisions. On the other hand, the person giving these compliments may lose integrity and become dishonest. For example, imagine a student whose friend always tells them they are very smart, even when they don't study. The student might stop working hard, believing they don't need to, and their grades might drop. Meanwhile, the friend becomes used to lying just to make others happy. Both are affected negatively—one loses the drive to improve, and the other loses honesty. To apply this lesson, it's important to offer real, genuine praise and honest feedback. This helps everyone stay grounded and strive for true improvement without being misled by false compliments.