When people find a man of the most distinguished abilities as a writer their inferior while he is with them, read more

When people find a man of the most distinguished abilities as a writer their inferior while he is with them, it must be highly gratifying to them.

There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to read more

There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.

The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.
[Fr., Les merchants sont toujours surpris de trouver read more

The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.
[Fr., Les merchants sont toujours surpris de trouver de
l'habilete dans les bons.]

If they try to rush me, I always say, I've only got one other speed and it's slower.

If they try to rush me, I always say, I've only got one other speed and it's slower.

To the very last, he [Napolean] had a kind of idea, that, namely,
of "la carriere ouverte aux talents"--the read more

To the very last, he [Napolean] had a kind of idea, that, namely,
of "la carriere ouverte aux talents"--the tools to him that can
handle them.

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.]

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing or Harvard. We hire a man, not read more

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.

If you count all your assets you always show a profit.

If you count all your assets you always show a profit.

Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.

Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.