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.]

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing or Harvard. We hire a man, not read more

It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.

The question "Who ought to be boss?" is like as "Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?" Obviously, read more

The question "Who ought to be boss?" is like as "Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?" Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.

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.

Wicked people are always surprised to find ability in those that are good.

Wicked people are always surprised to find ability in those that are good.

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.]

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

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

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.