The sting behind compliments

Growing up, I remember hearing the saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothing at all". Believe it or not, I do try to take this into account when shelling out praises about others. I'm the type of guy that will take the time to let the waitress know that she has done a great job while eating at a restaurant. I believe that in a cynical world, more of this type of proactive behavior is necessary, as long as it is genuine and from the heart. On the flipside of things, whenever somebody speaks highly of us, it is very important that we don't let it get to our heads. The sting behind compliments, is that it can create a destructive pride within. I wonder how many narcissistic people were created due to the significant amount of recognition given to them from well intentioned admirers. Of course, this shouldn't stop us from giving genuine praise but the receiver should be aware of it's effects. Dale Carnegie, in his book titled, How to Win Friends and Influence People, suggests that "We should be hearty in our approbation and lavish in our praise". I couldn't have said it better!