Ali's response to excessive but insincere praise
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 83
٨٣. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام) لِرَجُلٍ أَفْرَطَ فِي الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ لَهُ مُتَّهِماً: أَنَا دُونَ مَا تَقُولُ وَفَوْقَ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ.
83. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said about a man who praised him much, although he did not admire him: I am below what you express and above what you feel in your heart.