Let none presume to wear an undeserved dignity. O that estates, degrees, and offices, were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor were purchased by the merit of the wearer.
Use every man after his desert, and who shall scape whipping?
We have no merit save our thirst for truth.[Nous n’avons de mérite que par notre soif du Vrai.]
We cannot attribute to fortune or merit that which he achieved without either.[Non si può adunque attribuire alla fortuna o alla virtù quello che senza l’una e l’altra fu da lui conseguito.]
The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit than merit itself.[Le monde récompense plus souvent les apparences du mérite que le mérite même.]
The merit of a thing lies in its difficulty.[Le mérite en toutes choses est dans la difficulté.]
The insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes.
The force of his own merit makes his way.
Presumption in connection with merit offends us even more than presumption in persons devoid of merit, for merit in itself offends us.[Anmaassung bei Verdiensten beleidigt noch mehr, als Anmaassung von Menschen ohne Verdienst: denn schon das Verdienst beleidigt.]
Praise us as we are tasted, allow us as we prove.
I help those who can help themselves.
Here is a field open for talent; and here, merit will a have certain favor, and industry is graced with its due reward.
