I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.
나를 칭찬하는 자는 나의 원수
na.reul ching.chan.ha.neun ja.neun na.ui won.su
I-OBJ praise-PRESPART person-TOPIC I-GEN enemy
A person who praises me [is] my enemy.
Beware of those who offer praise. This is a fairly universal sentiment for aphorisms. I had some difficulty with the word 자(者) because several dictionaries I checked didn’t make clear the meaning “person.” This single polysemous syllable has half a dozen unrelated meanings (derived from different Chinese borrowings). Once I found a dictionary that included this meaning, I remembered running across it before – I guess it’s kind of an archaic term, but pops up in aphorisms and fossilized phrases a lot.
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26
[daily log: walking, 7km]