"I don't say 'Tis impossible for an impudent man not to rise in the world, but a moderate merit with a large share of impudence is more probable to be advanced than the greatest qualifications without it"
- Mary Wortley Montagu
About this Quote
In this quote, Mary Wortley Montagu is suggesting that while it might not be impossible for a strong and audacious individual to be successful in life, it is more likely for somebody with a moderate level of skill and a strong dosage of impudence to achieve success. This indicates that having a certain level of boldness and confidence can be useful in climbing up the social ladder and achieving success, even if one's credentials may not be as exceptional. Montagu is highlighting the significance of having a balance between modesty and assertiveness in order to flourish in a competitive world.
"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things... it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface"