When we disclaim praise it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
Writing I'm convinced should be a subversive activity - frowned on by the authorities - and not one cooed over and praised beyond common sense by some teacher.
No man deserves to be praised for his goodness who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth or an impotence of will.
Undeserved praise causes more pangs of conscience later than undeserved blame but probably only for this reason that our power of judgment are more completely exposed by being over praised than by being unjustly underestimated.
The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples - where I'm pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping The Sports Authority which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised.
When we had to do book reports I would pick a book that no one read and just make it up and turn that in. I got praised for my imagination.
It is great happiness to be praised of them who are most praiseworthy.
I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.
Now God be praised that to believing souls gives light in darkness comfort in despair.