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There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation without some merit.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

Il y a du mérite sans élévation mais il n'y a point d'élévation sans quelque mérite.

Original text (French)

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Variants

as: "There may be talent without position, but there is no position without some kind of talent".

More quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

To succeed in the world we do everything we can to appear successful already.

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We hardly find any persons of good sense save those who agree with us.

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We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.

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One must listen if one wishes to be listened to.

Truth does not do so much good in the world, as the appearance of it does evil.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: François de La Rochefoucauld (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.