Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

The world rewards the appearance of merit oftener than merit
itself.
[Fr., Le monde recompense plus souvent les read more

The world rewards the appearance of merit oftener than merit
itself.
[Fr., Le monde recompense plus souvent les apparences de merite
que le merite meme.]

We start with gifts. Merit comes from what we make of them.

We start with gifts. Merit comes from what we make of them.

The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire read more

The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach.

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.

The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
read more

The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
[Fr., La faveur des princes n'exclut pas le merite, et ne le
suppose pas aussi.]

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a read more

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.

It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.