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.]

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.]

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.]

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

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.

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