Wisdom for the Soul

ABILITY

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.
Aristotle
384-322 BCE, Greek Philosopher
Nicomachean Ethics , II, 1, 1103a, in The Basic Works of Aristotle , Richard McKeon, ed., 1941

Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability.
Cicero
106-43 BCE, Roman Orator, Statesman, Essayist

When one must, one can.
Yiddish Saying

Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
Francis Bacon
1561-1626, English Philosopher, Essayist, Politician

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving.
Francis de Sales
1567-1622, French Prelate, Patron Saint of Writers

Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.
Baltasar Gracian
1601-1685, Spanish Jesuit, Writer, Philosopher
The Oracle

Natural abilities can almost compensate for the want of every kind of cultivation, but no cultivation of the mind can make up for the want of natural abilities.
Arthur Schopenhauer
1788-1860, German Philosopher

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.
John Henry Newman
1801-1890, English Cardinal, Theologian, Poet

Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.
Frederick Douglass
1817-1895, African-American Abolitionist, Writer
in The Ultimate Success Quotations Library , 1997

The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.
Booker T. Washington
1856-1915, African-American Educator, Reformer

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.
Henry Ford
1863-1947, American Industrialist, Inventor, Philanthropist

It's amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions.
Charles Kettering
1876-1958, American Engineer, Inventor

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
John Wooden
1910-, American Basketball Coach

We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.
Stevie Wonder
1950-, African-American Singer, Songwriter

Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, "Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary."
Anthony Robbins
1960-, American Writer, Motivational Speaker

We don't know who we are until we see what we can do.
Martha Grimes
Writer's Handbook

No one knows what is in him till he tries, and many would never try if they were not forced to.
Basil Maturin
Laws of the Spiritual Life

ABILITY

This cross-index may help identify and delineate more closely subjective realities often hard to pin down.

Related states elucidate shades of meaning and amplify nuances of feeling
Syntonic elements foster and enhance well-being
Dystonic factors are contraindicated and should be minimized.

Related States & Conditions

Accomplishment/Achievement/Excellence | Action/Effort | Actualization/Fulfillment | Creativity/Discovery/Innovation | Expression, Ingenuity, Initiative, Manifestation, Means, Power, Skill/Talent/Resources, Strength

Syntonic

Dystonic