He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out read more

He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.

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.

Knowing what you can not do is more important than knowing what you can do. In fact, that's good taste.

Knowing what you can not do is more important than knowing what you can do. In fact, that's good taste.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, read more

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

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

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

Natural abilities can almost compensate for the want of every kind of cultivation, but no cultivation of the mind can read more

Natural abilities can almost compensate for the want of every kind of cultivation, but no cultivation of the mind can make up for the want of natural abilities.

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 winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

A dwarf is small even if he stands on a mountain; a colossus
keeps his height, even if he read more

A dwarf is small even if he stands on a mountain; a colossus
keeps his height, even if he stands in a well.
[Lat., Parvus pumilio, licet in monte constiterit; colossus
magnitudinem suam servabit, etiam si steterit in puteo.]