Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.

In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit but his face.

Immediately after 11 September, the U.S. closed down the Somali charitable network Al-Barakaat on grounds that it was financing terror. This achievement was hailed one of the great successes of the ‚war on terror.‘ In contrast, Washington’s withdrawal of its charges as without merit a year later aroused little notice.

There are few cases in which mere popularity should be considered a proper test of merit; but the case of song-writing is, I think, one of the few.

I hope I would not be so arrogant as to doubt anyone’s religion or belief.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.

When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

Celebrity is the chastisement of merit and the punishment of talent.

People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Any top-level athlete, it’s always the same. There’s always that hint of arrogance there… It’s hard to be humble when you’re the best.

The biggest crime in England is to rise above your station. It’s fine to be a pop star. ‚Oh, it’s great, lots of fun, aren’t they sweet, these pop stars! But to think you have anything to say about how the world should work? What arrogance!‘

Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.

Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.

Plagiarists, at least, have the merit of preservation.

The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.

It may easily come to pass that a vain man may become proud and imagine himself pleasing to all when he is in reality a universal nuisance.

I’m the greatest thing that ever lived! I’m the king of the world! I’m a bad man. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.

What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I’m not who I say I am when it comes to my faith – something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time.

He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.

There is a danger that threatens everyone in the church, all of us. The danger of worldliness. It leads us to vanity, arrogance and pride.

A fool is wise in his eyes.

The demand to be loved is the greatest of all arrogant presumptions.

Nearly all the things I do that are of any merit at all start off just being good fun, and I think I’m sort of building up to doing something else quite soon.

I would never do a commercial if I thought it was offensive to anyone.

You know how arrogant the French are – extraordinary.

Some are made modest by great praise, others insolent.

Pride is an independent, me-oriented spirit. It makes people arrogant, rude and hard to get along with. When our heart is prideful, we don’t give God the credit and we mistreat people, looking down on them and thinking we deserve what we have.

There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‚Good pride‘ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‚Bad pride‘ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

Mere bashfulness without merit is awkwardness.

He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.

Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.

It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.