Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck, that of the people.

Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck, that of the people.

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there read more

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is read more

The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.

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.]

'Tis skill not strength that governs a ship.

'Tis skill not strength that governs a ship.

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.]

Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.

Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.