You are a devil at everything, and there is no kind of thing in
the 'versal world but what read more

You are a devil at everything, and there is no kind of thing in
the 'versal world but what you can turn your hand into.

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),

For as our modern wits behold,
Mounted a pick-back on the old,
Much farther off, much further read more

For as our modern wits behold,
Mounted a pick-back on the old,
Much farther off, much further he,
Rais'd on his aged Beast, could see.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, read more

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.

The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.

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.

As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.

As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.

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.]

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.