ADAPTABILITY

Related Subject: Change

1. Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers for the observers of his law. The people assembled. Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and again; and when the hill stood still he was never a whit abashed, but said. "If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill."—BACON, Of Boldness

2. Nothing is more politic than to make the wheels of the mind concentric and voluble with the wheels of fortune.—BACON, Advancement of Learning

3. I am made all things to all men.—Bible, 1 Corinthians, 9: 22

4. I am of a constitution so general, that it consorts and sympathiseth with all things. I have no antipathy, or rather idiosyncrasy, in diet, humour, air, any thing.—SIR THOMAS BROWNE, Religio Medici

5. He was capable of adapting himself to place, time, and person, and of playing his part appropriately under whatever circumstances.—DIOGENES LAERTIUS, Aristippus

6. The wise man does no wrong in changing his habits with the times.—DIONYSIUS CATO, Disticha de Moribus

7. Man is a pliable animal, a being who gets accustomed to everything!—DOSTOYEVSKY, The House of the Dead

8. Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale; were I a swan, the part of a swan.—EPICTETUS, Discourses

9. We must cut our coat according to our cloth, and adapt ourselves to changing circumstances.—DEAN INGE, Lay Thoughts

10. Adapt thyself to the estate which is thy portion.—MARCUS AURELIUS, Meditations

11. Who to mankind will not adapt himself,
    For his disdain must pay the penalty.—PHAEDRUS, Fables

12. Look for a tough wedge for a tough log.—PUBLILIUS SYRUS, Sententiae

13. My nature is subdued To what it works in, like the dyer's hand.—SHAKESPEARE, Sonnet 111

14. It is safest to be moderately base—to be flexible in shame, and to be always ready for what is generous, good, and just, when anything is to be gained by virtue.—SIDNEY SMITH, Essays