Edification

Taking a compliment -- without being a complete arse -- is an art.

I feel I've still not grown out of my 'complete arse' phase.

I'm certainly not approaching art.

• Take the compliment with a smile.  Not a smug one.
• Return the compliment.  Not with a glib or hollow one.
• Be glad that somebody had something good to say about you.  Don't believe your own publicity.

On average, I achieve one out of three of these.

My all-time best effort was two out of three.

I aspire to the art.  I expect I'm an arse.