quotations about ability
The abilities of man must fall short on one side or other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed; if you pull it upon your shoulders, you leave your feet bare; if you thrust it down upon your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.
SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE
The Works of Sir William Temple
When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how to seize the opportunity she offers.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
attributed, Day's Collacon
To become an able man in any profession, there are three things necessary -- nature, study, and practice.
ARISTOTLE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. A student of Plato, he was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition. His writings have exerted a unique influence on almost every form of knowledge in the West and continue to be a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
The desire of appearing persons of ability often prevents our being so.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
François de La Rochefoucauld (15 September 1613 - 17 March 1680) was a noted French moralist. He is part of the literary movement of classicism and best known for his maxims, which had a profound influence on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Paying attention to the way you think about your abilities can be a game-changer.... In the fixed mindset, people think their talents and abilities are fixed. If you think this way, then you worry about them and try to validate them, limiting you. When you operate with a fixed mindset you're afraid to ask for help.... In contrast, when you embrace a growth mindset, you believe that your talents and abilities can be developed through hard work, good strategy and mentoring.
DENISE GARCIA
"This simple shift in thinking can make you more successful, professor says", CNBC, June 13, 2016
The more confident you feel out there, the more your ability is going to show.
CARLOS GONZALEZ
"Story's first week in the majors is one for the record books", Oakland Press, April 11, 2016
Ability comprehends the power of doing in general, without specifying the quality or degree.
GEORGE CRABBE
English Synonyms
Ability consists in doing what we apprehend we can do.
HAKEWELL
attributed, Day's Collacon
Our personalities and abilities are not fixed. This is not to say that nothing about a person is stable over time, but longitudinal studies of personality traits have found the traits to vary considerably with age, just as IQ scores have been found to jump when test takers are exposed to richer learning environments. Yes, there are limits, but people can and do change with effort and experience.
HEIDI GRANT HALVORSON
"The Mindset That Leads People to Be Dangerously Overconfident", Harvard Business Review, April 19, 2016
Ability in man is an apt good, if it be applied to good ends.
DIOGENES
attributed, Day's Collacon
Ability for stupendous toil is lodged in every human spirit, a grand gift from the God of nature; but only the persevering worker knows what this latent power is able to achieve.
ELIAS LYMAN MAGOON
Proverbs for the People
It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
François de La Rochefoucauld (15 September 1613 - 17 March 1680) was a noted French moralist. He is part of the literary movement of classicism and best known for his maxims, which had a profound influence on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
The abilities of man have not been exhausted; nothing has been done by him that cannot be better done; there is no effort of science or art that may not be exceeded, no depth of philosophy that cannot be deeper sounded, no flight of imagination that may not be passed by strong and soaring wing.
JEAN PAUL
The Spirit of the Age, vol. 1-2
The greatest thing a man can do in this world, is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other.
ORISON SWETT MARDEN
Learn to Expect a Great Deal of Life
How few there are who are furnished with abilities sufficient to recommend their actions to the admiration of the world, and distinguish themselves from the rest of mankind.
RICHARD STEELE
The Spectator, Dec. 22, 1711
Let each one do according to his ability.
TERENCE
attributed, Day's Collacon
There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.
ELBERT HUBBARD
"The Crying Need", A Message to Garcia and Thirteen Other Things
Don't doubt your abilities, believe in yourself and always trust your gut feeling -- it's an important instinct.
DAVID WELCH
"Chief encounters: believe in yourself, embrace change and don't doubt your abilities", Third Force News, February 9, 2016
Constructive criticism is painful. It stings as it pierces your ego and makes you doubt your abilities. But what is painful is essential to your growth.
GREGG STEINBERG
"Do you value constructive criticism? Good thing Harper Lee did", The Tennessean, February 28, 2016
I always tell our guys, play as if you have no ability. Play as if your ability is the last thing you have. I've got to focus, I've got to have attention to detail, my alignments, my assignments, where are my hands going to be. And when you do that, then your ability jumps out, then you have greatness.
JIMBO FISHER
"FSU starting CB Tarvarus McFadden's bounce-back mentality paying off", Orlando Sentinel, October 11, 2016