Merit Quotes

The merit of those who fill a space in the world's history, who are borne forward, as it were, by the weight of thousands whom they lead, shed a perfume less sweet than do the sacrifices of private virtue.

Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference.

You can take any line of business and skill and the ones who do it the best are the ones who get the most money for it.

No eulogy is due to him who simply does his duty and nothing more.

The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit.

The silence that accepts merit as the most natural thing in the world is the highest applause.

The superior man does not mind being in office; all he minds about is whether he has qualities that entitle him to office. He does not mind failing to get recognition; he is too busy doing the things that entitle him to recognition.

Let none presume To wear an undeserved dignity. O that estates, degrees, and offices Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!

When private men shall act with original views, the lustre will be transferred from the actions of kings to those of gentlemen.

Our merit gains us the esteem of the virtuous-our star that of the public.

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

I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.

Great Modesty often hides great Merit.

Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.

It is better not to make merit a matter of reward Lest people conspire and contend.

The implements to him who can handle them.

Object to merit and distinction, and you're setting your face against quality, independence, originality, genius against all the richness and variety of life. When you hold back the successful, you penalize those who need help.

If your only opportunity is to be equal then it is not opportunity.

Confidence always pleases those who receive it. It is a tribute we pay to their merit, a deposit we commit to their trust, a pledge that gives them a claim upon us, a kind of dependence to which we voluntarily submit.

There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.

More glorious to merit a sceptre than to possess one.

We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less.

The undeserver may sleep when the man of action is called on.

Require nothing unreasonable of your officers and men, but see that whatever is required be punctually complied with. Reward and punish every man according to his merit, without partiality or prejudice; hear his complaints; if well founded, redress them; if otherwise, discourage them, in order to prevent frivolous ones. Discourage vice in every shape, and impress upon the mind of every man, from the first to the lowest, the importance of the cause, and what it is they are contending for.

The thinking part of mankind do not form their judgment from events; and their equity will ever attach equal glory to those actions which deserve success, and those which have been crowned with it.

Merit rarely goes unrewarded.

If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue.

Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious.

An efficient and valuable man does what he can, whether the community pay him for it or not. The inefficient offer their inefficiency to the highest bidder, and are forever expecting to be put into office. One would suppose that they were rarely disappointed.

To be perfectly happy it does not suffice to possess happiness, it is necessary to have deserved it.