Life Quote by Jean De La Bruyere
“The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit, and yet does not prove that it exists.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Moral philosophy, 1685
Nobility can grant favor, but merit must stand on its own merit.
In simple terms: Favor doesn’t guarantee merit.
Key Takeaway
Value true merit over patronage.
Themes
ethics
social hierarchy
meritocracy
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- job applications
- academic admissions
- grant proposals
Key Concepts
Patronage
intrinsic worth
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess merit impartially?
- Can meritocracy be truly fair?
A Different Perspective
Patronage can still influence outcomes.
![“The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit, and yet does not prove that it exists. [Fr., La faveur des princes n'exclut pas le merite, et ne le suppose pas aussi.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e2a/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_doe_the-favor-of-princes-does-not-preclude-t_2394961.jpg)
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
