'Tis skill not strength that governs a ship.

'Tis skill not strength that governs a ship.

Every person is responsible for all the good with the scope of
his abilities, and for no more, and read more

Every person is responsible for all the good with the scope of
his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is
the largest.
- Gail Hamilton (pseudonym of Mary Abigail Dodge),

Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the read more

Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones.

People are always ready to admit a man's ability after he gets there.

People are always ready to admit a man's ability after he gets there.

From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned.

From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned.

Executive ability is deciding quickly and getting somebody else to do the work.

Executive ability is deciding quickly and getting somebody else to do the work.

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

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.]

Everyone must row with the oars he has.

Everyone must row with the oars he has.