QUOTATIONS.

ABILITY.

The art of being able to make a good use of moderate abilities wins esteem, and often confers more reputation than real merit.Rochefoucauld.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.-Walpole.

The force of his own merit makes his way, a gift that Heaven gives for him.—Shakespeare.

The abilities of a 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 W. Temple.

The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age we live in.—Rochefoucauld.

An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions; he is neither hot nor timid.-Chesterfield.

No man's abilities are so remarkably shining, as not to stand in need of a proper opportunity, a patron, and even the praises of a friend, to recommend them to the notice of the world.-Pliny.

Some persons of weak understanding are so sensible of that weakness, as to be able to make a good use of it.-Rochefoucauld.

ABSENCE.

"T is ever common, that men are merriest when they are from home.-Shakespeare.

Distance of time and place do generally cure what they seem to aggravate; and taking leave of our friends resembles taking leave of the world, concerning which it hath been often said that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible. Fielding.

The joy of meeting pays the pangs of absence; else who could bear it?-Rowe.

All flowers will droop in absence of the sun that waked their sweets.—Dryden.

What vigor absence adds to love!-Flatman.

I am not sure if the ladies understand the full value of the influence of absence, nor do I think it wise to teach it them, lest, like the Clelias and Mandanes of yore, they should resume the humor of sending their lovers into banishment. Distance, in truth, produces in idea the same effect as in real perspective. Objects are softened, and rounded, and rendered doubly graceful; the harsher and more ordinary points of character are mellowed down, and those by which it is remembered are the more striking outlines that mark sublimity, grace, or beauty. Walter Scott.