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),

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

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

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.

You are a devil at everything, and there is no kind of thing in
the 'versal world but what read more

You are a devil at everything, and there is no kind of thing in
the 'versal world but what you can turn your hand into.

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.]

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

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

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.

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.

He could raise scruples dark and nice,
And after solve 'em in a trice;
As if Divinity read more

He could raise scruples dark and nice,
And after solve 'em in a trice;
As if Divinity had catch'd
The itch, on purpose to be scratched.