The world more often rewards the appearances of merit than merit itself.

He merits no thanks who does a kindness for his own ends

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation without some merit. [Fr., Il y a du merite sans elevation mais il n'y a point d'elevation sans quelque merite.]

There is a season for man's merit as well as for fruit. [Fr., Le merite des hommes a sa saison aussi bien que les fruits.]

The world rewards the appearance of merit oftener than merit itself. [Fr., Le monde recompense plus souvent les apparences de merite que le merite meme.]

True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.