We start with gifts. Merit comes from what we make of them.

We start with gifts. Merit comes from what we make of them.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

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.

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

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.]

Thy father's merit sets thee up to view,
And shows thee in the fairest point of light,
read more

Thy father's merit sets thee up to view,
And shows thee in the fairest point of light,
To make thy virtues, or thy faults, conspicuous.

The world more often rewards the appearances of merit than merit itself.

The world more often rewards the appearances of merit than merit itself.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

By merit raised
To that bad eminence.

If you wish in this world to advance your merits you're bound to enhance; you must stir it and stump read more

If you wish in this world to advance your merits you're bound to enhance; you must stir it and stump it, and blow your own trumpet, or, trust me, you haven't a chance.