Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would talk even with the worst person among those present, turning to him with full attention; in this way he would win his heart. When talking with me, he would talk turning to me with full attention, to the point that I thought I was better than everyone present. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Am I better, or Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Abu Bakr. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Am I better, or Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Umar. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Am I better, or Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Uthman. When I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) this and he turned away from me, I wished that I had never asked him (peace and blessings be upon him) this question. (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Part of this narration is reported in the Sahih without this context.
Imam al-Tabarani recorded this narration, and its chain is hasan (good).