Towers are measured by their shadows, and men of merit by those who are envious of them.
—Chinese Proverb
It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.
—Petrarch (1304–74) Italian Scholar, Poet, Humanist
True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.
—George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–95) British Statesman, Writer, Politician
Mere bashfulness without merit, is awkward; and merit without modesty, insolent. But modest merit has a double claim to acceptance, and generally meets with as many patrons as beholders.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Just as a companion (one who does not desert his friend) becomes a real friend of him who is in need of help, so is the accumulated merit to the person in the hereafter.
—Buddhist Teaching
It never occurs to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Elevation is to merit what dress is to a handsome person.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
We should not judge of a man’s merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The force of his own merit makes his way, a gift that heaven gives for him.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
There’s a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
I am told so many ill things of a man, and I see so few in him, that I began to suspect he has a real but troublesome merit, as being likely too eclipse that of others.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation without some merit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If you wish your merit to be known,
acknowledge that of other people.
—Eastern Proverb
The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who has done meritorious deeds rejoices both in his present life and in the hereafter. Seeing the flawlessness of his actions, he rejoices more and more.
—Buddhist Teaching
The world more frequently recompenses the appearance of merit, than merit itself.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Never to reward any one equal to his merits; but always to insinuate that the reward was above it.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit; to become delightful, happiness must be tainted with poison.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than his merit; posterity will regard the merit rather than the man.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
An ingenuous mind feels in unmerited praise the bitterest reproof.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
O, that estates, degrees, and offices were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor were purchased by the merit of the wearer.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If a man wants to do good, let him do it again and be glad of it, for happiness is the outcome of the accumulation of good deeds.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let a man not look down upon a small amount of good deeds, thinking that is will not bear fruit. This can be represented as a water-pot which can be filled by the dripping of water. A wise man, gradually accumulating his merits, will at length attain its perfection.
—Buddhist Teaching
Real merit of any kind cannot long be concealed; it will be discovered, and nothing can depreciate it but a man exhibiting it himself. It may not always be rewarded as it ought; but it will always be known.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Speak little and well if you wish to be esteemed a person of merit.
—French Proverb
Merit is never so conspicuous as when coupled with an obscure origin, just as the moon never appears so lustrous as when it emerges from a cloud.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
We can perceive the difference between ourselves and our inferiors, but when it comes to a question of the difference between us and our superiors we fail to appreciate merits of which we have no preconceptions.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
The best evidence of merit is the cordial recognition of it whenever and wherever it may be found.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The secret to success is to know something nobody else knows.
—Aristotle Onassis (1906–75) Argentine-Greek Shipping Magnate
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