Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

Merit is much more cheaply acknowledged than rewarded

The same principle leads us to neglect a man of merit that
induces us to admire a fool.
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The same principle leads us to neglect a man of merit that
induces us to admire a fool.
[Fr., Du meme fonds dont on neglige un homme de merite l'on sait
encore admirer un sot.]

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.

Speak little and well if you wish to be esteemed a person of merit.

Speak little and well if you wish to be esteemed a person of merit.

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.]

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

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

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

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.

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

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