Ability

For though he could not perch so well,
Nor strut, nor swagger any longer,
His wings were strong as any bird's --
Or were they stronger?
~ Karle Wilson Baker, from Burning Bush (1922). The Cripple

It is insight into human nature that is the key to the communicator's skill. For whereas the writer is concerned with what he puts into his writings, the communicator is concerned with what the reader gets out of it. He therefore becomes a student of how people read or listen.
~ Bill Bernbach, Bill Bernbach said ... (1989).

There's no use fussing on a boy who doesn't have any ability.
~ Paul William "Bear" Bryant, I Ain't Never Been Nothing but a Winner: Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's 323 Greatest Quotes About Success, On and Off the Football Field (March 2000).

I never could be an expert golfer. That, too, is education -- to learn where one lacks aptitude.
~ Willis H. Carrier, in Willis Haviland Carrier: Father of Air Conditioning (1952).

To note an artist's limitations is but to define his talent.
~ Willa Sibert Cather, Not Under Forty (1936).

Careless she is with artful care,
Affecting to seem unaffected.
~ William Congreve, A Hue and Cry after Fair Amoret (1698)

If modesty was not regulated by prudence and judgment, ability would not always do justice to itself.
~ William Danby, Thoughts on Various Subjects (1831).

We should be careful not to mistake the possession of talents, or their occasional exhibition, for the full use of them.
~ William Danby, Ideas and Realities, or Thoughts on Various Subjects (1827).

I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it.
~ William C. de Mille

Best efforts are essential. Unfortunately, best efforts, people charging this way and that way without guidance of principles, can do a lot of damage. Think of the chaos that would come if everyone did his best, not knowing what to do.
~ W. Edwards Deming, Out of the Crisis (1986).

If we conducted ourselves as sensibly in good times as we do in hard times, we could all acquire a competence.
~ William Feather

Not how much talent have I, but how much will to use the talent that I have, is the main question. Not how much do I know, but how much do I do with what I know?
~ William Channing Gannett, from The Faith That Makes Faithful (1886). Blesssed Be Drudgery

The world judge of men by their ability in their professions, and we judge of ourselves by the same test; for it is on that on which our success in life depends. Yet how often do our talents and pursuits lie in different directions!
~ William Hazlitt, Characteristics: in the Manner of Rochefoucault's Maxims (1823).

To be capable of steady friendship or lasting love, are the two greatest proofs, not only of goodness of heart, but of strength of mind.
~ William Hazlitt, Characteristics: in the Manner of Rochefoucault's Maxims (1823).

All the world is competent to judge my pictures except those who are of my profession.
~ William Hogarth

Talent is ungovernable.
~ William Hone, The Every-Day Book (1825-26). March 12

Tools aren't as important as the skill of the people who use them.
~ Bill Husted, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (22 March 1998). Technobuddy

Compared with what we ought to be, we are only half awake.
~ William James, Presidential Address, American Philosophical Association. Columbia University (28 December 1906). The Energies of Men

Yeah, life hurts like hell, but this is how I keep going. I have a sense of humor. I've got my brothers and sisters. I've got this ability to make something out of nothing. I can clap my hands and make magic.
~ Bill T. Jones

Disability is physical and ability lies in the mind.
~ William Ngwako Maphoto

[T]he crown of all faculties is common-sense.
~ William Mathews, Getting on in the World: Or, Hints on Success in Life (1872). Chapter IX: Practical Talent

Everyone who can hold a pen is confident of his ability to criticise, and to criticise superciliously.
~ W. Somerset Maugham, Mrs. Craddock (1902).

At times, our strengths propel us so far forward we can no longer endure our weaknesses and perish from them.
~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, The Gay Science (1882).

The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.
~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

I had some god-given talent. I'm grateful for that, and I'm happy that it's over.
~ William ("The Refrigerator") Perry

Don't tell about a man's being able to talk sense; everyone can talk sense -- can he talk nonsense?
~ William Pitt (1st Earl of Chatham)

I don't know why I run so fast. I just run.
~ Wilma Rudolph, in ESPN "Classic's SportsCentury" (2001). Rudolph ran and world went wild

All lovers swear more performance than they are able, and yet reserve an ability that they never perform; vowing more than the perfection of ten, and discharging less than the tenth part of one.
~ William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida

God give them wisdom that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents.
~ William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. Act I, scene v

Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something.
~ William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. Act III, scene iv

She was a vixen when she went to school:
And though she be but little, she is fierce.
~ William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

To show our simple skill,
That is the true beginning of our end.
~ William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act V, scene i

When workmen strive to do better than well,
They do confound their skill in covetousness.
~ William Shakespeare, King John

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are a-bed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.
~ Sir William Temple, 1st Baronet, from Miscellanea, Part II (1690). An Essay upon the Ancient and Modern Learning

With indignation I survey
Such skill and judgment thrown away;
The time profusely squandered there
On vulgar arts beneath thy care,
If well employed at less expense
Had taught thee honour, virtue, sense.
~ William Whitehead, from Poems on Several Occasions (1754). The Youth and the Philosopher. A Fable

Reason is said to be one faculty, and Imagination another -- but there cannot be a grosser mistake; they are one and indivisible.
~ John Wilson, from The Recreations of Christopher North (1846). An Hour's Talk About Poetry (written in 1831)

Use what talents you have; the woods would have little music if no birds sang their song except those who sang best.
~ Reverend Oliver G. Wilson

The most important skill in staying calm is not to lose sleep over small issues. The second most important skill is to be able to view all issues as small issues.
~ Paul Wilson, The Little Book of Calm (1996).

Many of us are more capable than some of us ... but none of us is as capable as all of us!
~ Tom Wilson, Ziggy

I weigh the man, not his title; 'tis not the king's stamp can make the metal better or heavier.
~ William Wycherley, The Plain Dealer (1674). Act I, scene i