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He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another
He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another
The wisdom of our ancestors.
The wisdom of our ancestors.
 "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you."
   - Iphicrates,  
 "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you."
   - Iphicrates, 
Born is a Cellar, . . . and living in a Garret.
Born is a Cellar, . . . and living in a Garret.
 People will not look forward to posterity, who never look 
backward to their ancestors.  
 People will not look forward to posterity, who never look 
backward to their ancestors. 
There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had read more
There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.
I came up-stairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.
I came up-stairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.
 What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
 Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards.  
 What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
 Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards. 
 A degenerate nobleman, or one that is proud of his birth, is like 
a turnip. There is nothing good read more 
 A degenerate nobleman, or one that is proud of his birth, is like 
a turnip. There is nothing good of him but that which is 
underground.