Home › A › Ability

Ability: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

Men who undertake considerable things, even in a regular way, ought to give us ground to presume ability.— BURKE — Reflections on the Revolution in

France. He could raise scruples dark and nice, And after solve 'em in a trice; As if Divinity had catch'd The itch, on purpose to be scratch'd.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. I. Canto I. L. 163.

You are a devil at everything, and there is no kind of thing in the 'versal world but what you can turn your hand to.— CERVANTES — Don Quixote. Pt. I. Bk. III. Ch. XI.

The dwarf sees farther than the giant, when he has the giant's shoulders to mount on.— COLERIDGE — The Friend. Sect. I.

Essay VIII. Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.— DRYDEN — Alexander's Feast. L. 160.

As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.— FROUDE — Short Studies on Great

Subjects. Education. Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is the largest.— GAIL HAMILTON — Country Living and

Country Thinking. Men and Women. To the very last, he [Napoleon] had a kind of idea; that, namely, of la carrière ouverte aux talent-the tools to him that can handle them.— LOCKHART — Sir Walter Scott. London

and Westminster Review, 1838. A Traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a Lacedæmonian, "I do not believe you can do as much." "True,” said he, "but every goose can."— PLUTARCH — Laconic Apothegms.

Remarkable Speeches of Some Obscure Men. Read my little fable: He that runs may read. Most can raise the flowers now, For all have got the seed.— TENNYSON — The Flowers.

Who does the best his circumstance allows, Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.— YOUNG — Night Thoughts. Night II. L. 91.

Les méchants sont toujours surpris de trouver de l'habileté dans les bons. The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.