先せん生せいと言いわれるほどの馬ば鹿かでなし

expression

I'm not fooled by flattery; I'm not so stupid as to be swayed by being called 'sensei'

A set phrase used to deflect praise or flattery, especially when someone is addressed with an honorific title like 先生. It implies the speaker is not naive enough to be manipulated by such compliments. Often used humorously or self-deprecatingly.

See also: 先生

• 「先せん生せい、さすがですね」と言いわれて、「先せん生せいと言いわれるほどの馬ば鹿かでなし」と笑わらって返かえした。

  When told 'Sensei, as expected of you,' he laughed and replied, 'I'm not so stupid as to be swayed by being called sensei.'

• お世せ辞じを言いわれても、先せん生せいと言いわれるほどの馬ば鹿かでなし、簡かん単たんには乗のせられないよ。

  Even if you flatter me, I'm not fooled that easily—I'm not so stupid as to be taken in by being called sensei.