Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.

Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.

Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for read more

Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for; and with obscurity, for being unenvied.

Patience is the key to contentment.

Patience is the key to contentment.

He that is well paid is well satisfied.

He that is well paid is well satisfied.

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.

If you wish in this world to advance your merits you're bound to enhance; you must stir it and stump read more

If you wish in this world to advance your merits you're bound to enhance; you must stir it and stump it, and blow your own trumpet, or, trust me, you haven't a chance.

Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propped by read more

Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor called upon
For high feats done to th' crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants, but spiderlike
Out of his self-drawing web, 'a gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way,
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a read more

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase.