The sages say that “one should recite a portion of the praise of a person in front of him and the whole praise when he is not present.” The reason for not reciting all of his praise in his presence is so he should not become arrogant nor proud. However, a portion of the praise is mentioned in order that the person will be diligent in doing good when he sees that his deeds will bring him praise in the gates. Likewise, it should be mentioned in order to increase love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. Therefore one needs a measure and scales of justice, for if one sees a person who is not motivated by love of G-d, and there is reason to feel that the yoke of the Mitzva will rest heavily upon him, it is fitting to extoll his praise and the reward of the Mitzva which he is performing and to say to him “How lucky you are, how good is your portion for you are acquiring the world to come through your deeds”. It is also fitting to mention other similar words that uplift the heart in order that he should hold on, with all his strength, to perform the mitzva, either in order that they should praise him, or in order to merit a good reward and through (doing it) for ulterior motives he will eventually do it for its true sake.
However, for a good person who is motivated by love of Hashem and does his deeds for the sake of heaven and not in order to garner praise, it is fitting to be careful and to refrain from praising him to his face at all, especially in this orphaned generation, for the inclination towards pride is a great evil. If the inclination to pride is (constantly) nearby, how much more so will it approach when he hears that his deeds are being praised. Since, one who seduces his friend is worse than one who kills him, it is correct to be extremely careful not to seduce him with the grave sin of pride nor to extoll his praise in his presence, and not to retell to him praise that was said about him in his absence for there is strong reason to suspect that perhaps, G-d forbid, he will sin and anger the Creator, His Name be blessed, with the grave sin of pride and his soul will be lost G-d forbid. Even if he overcomes his inclination and does not sin, why does he need to get involved in this trouble and embroiled in this fight? It is correct to have pity on the honour of Hashem and on the soul of his friend.
