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

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

The more merit, the less affection

The more merit, the less affection

The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
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The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
[Fr., La faveur des princes n'exclut pas le merite, et ne le
suppose pas aussi.]

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

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

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.]

It sounds like stories from the land of spirits,
If any man obtain that which he merits,
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It sounds like stories from the land of spirits,
If any man obtain that which he merits,
Or any merit that which he obtains.

There's a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.

There's a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.

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

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