Men who undertake considerable things, even in a regular way,
ought to give us ground to presume ability.

Men who undertake considerable things, even in a regular way,
ought to give us ground to presume ability.

As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.

As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.

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.

There is no need to show your ability before everyone.

There is no need to show your ability before everyone.

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you read more

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.

I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.

I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.

Men, like bullets, go farthest when they are smoothest.
[Ger., Die Menschen gehen wie Schiesskugeln weiter, wenn sie
read more

Men, like bullets, go farthest when they are smoothest.
[Ger., Die Menschen gehen wie Schiesskugeln weiter, wenn sie
abgeglattet sind.]

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.

Every person is responsible for all the good with the scope of
his abilities, and for no more, and read more

Every person is responsible for all the good with the scope of
his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is
the largest.
- Gail Hamilton (pseudonym of Mary Abigail Dodge),