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.

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.

Ability is the art of getting credit for all the home runs somebody else hits.

Ability is the art of getting credit for all the home runs somebody else hits.

The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.
[Fr., Les merchants sont toujours surpris de trouver read more

The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.
[Fr., Les merchants sont toujours surpris de trouver de
l'habilete dans les bons.]

Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the read more

Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones.

A Traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a
Lacedaemonian, "I do not believe you can read more

A Traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a
Lacedaemonian, "I do not believe you can do as much." "True,"
said he. "but every goose can."

Martyrdom is the only way a man can become famous without ability.

Martyrdom is the only way a man can become famous without ability.

They are able because they think they are able.

They are able because they think they are able.

We rate ability in men by what they finish, not by what they attempt

We rate ability in men by what they finish, not by what they attempt