Often enough it is the admiration, not the admirer, that a woman covets.
Indeed,

Many a woman is in love with love (3), but not her lover. But this no
lover can be got to comprehend.

To flatter by deprecating a rival is a complement of extremely doubtful
efficacy.

(3) I seem to remember that somebody before has said something like this
before.

* * *

A woman does not admire too clement a conqueror. She admits the right to
ovation, and to him who waives it she lightly regards.

* * *

Seek no stepping-stones unless you mean to cross:

He who gathers stepping-stones and refrains from crossing is contempted
of women. Indeed,

Every advance of which advantage is not taken, is in reality a retreat.
And remember, too, that though

Sought interviews are sweet, those unsought are sweeter. And

Probably no son of Adam--and for the matter of that, probably no