A man must not deny his manifest abilities, for that is to evade his obligations.

A man must not deny his manifest abilities, for that is to evade his obligations.

If there be anything that can be called genius, it consists chiefly in ability to give that attention to a read more

If there be anything that can be called genius, it consists chiefly in ability to give that attention to a subject which keeps it steadily in the mind, till we have surveyed it accurately on all sides.

Men take only their needs into consideration, never their abilities.

Men take only their needs into consideration, never their abilities.

There is no need to show your ability before everyone.

There is no need to show your ability before everyone.

One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance
of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no read more

One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance
of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.
[Lat., Illud tamen in primis testandum est, nihil praecepta atque
artes valere nisi adjuvante natura.]

The world is like a board with holes in it, and the square men
have got into the round read more

The world is like a board with holes in it, and the square men
have got into the round holes, and the round into the square.

You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.

You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.