He merits no thanks who does a kindness for his own ends

He merits no thanks who does a kindness for his own ends

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

We should try to succeed by merit, not by favor. He who does
well will always have patrons enough.
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We should try to succeed by merit, not by favor. He who does
well will always have patrons enough.
[Lat., Virtute ambire oportet, non favitoribus.
Sat habet favitorum semper, qui recte facit.]

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation
without some merit.
[Fr., Il y a du read more

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation
without some merit.
[Fr., Il y a du merite sans elevation mais il n'y a point
d'elevation sans quelque merite.]

The more merit, the less affection

The more merit, the less affection

On their own merits modest men are dumb.

On their own merits modest men are dumb.

Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than his merit; posterity will regard the merit rather than the man.

Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than his merit; posterity will regard the merit rather than the man.