The Eulogy (n.) diminishes when complete: listing a man's merits in detail suggests these are his only ones, and the eulogist seems to survey him from above.
A Eulogy (n.) is praise finally arriving after the deadline
A Eulogy (n.) is a resume edited by grief and friends
The Eulogy (n.) is always too late ---- better to present me now with the wine and garlands which you propose to bestow upon my tomb.
Faint praise (n.) is praise so weak or lukewarm that it implies criticism.
Faint praise (n.) is like a tip left in coins.
Faint praise (n.) is approval delivered in a dose small enough to wound.
Faint praise (n.) is what you say when the most honest compliment is that it ended.
A Recommendation (n.) is written by the person most eager to see you go.
A Recommendation (n.) is given freely because the cost of being wrong falls entirely on whoever takes it.
A Recommendation (n.) is a bet the giver places with your evening.
A Recommendation (n.) is like co-signing a lease for somebody you have had dinner with twice.
Self-congratulation (n.) is the noise a person makes when the room stays quiet a second too long.
Self-congratulation (n.) is silly. One can't push oneself forward by patting oneself on the back.