A person’s worth lies in what they do well.
Quote
A person’s worth lies in what they do well.
Arabic original
قيمة كل امرئ ما يحسنه.
What it means
Worth is connected with mastery of an activity rather than rank or appearances. The maxim values acquired ability, while its concise wording cannot encompass every aspect of a person’s dignity.
The story behind this quote
The saying is traditionally attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib. The linked source quotes it while discussing the intellectual and practical powers of the human soul.
The Arabic verb concerns what someone masters and performs well. The translation therefore avoids reducing the saying to intelligence or prestige alone. In discussions transmitting the maxim, practical ability stands beside the ability to know; both help explain this account of a person’s worth.
The source
نهج البلاغة, الحكمة 81؛ وأوردها ابن تيمية في الجواب الصحيح قولًا سائرًا، ونسبها ابن عبد البر إلى علي في جامع بيان العلم وفضله, 1009
The text appears in the indicated source. A traditional attribution remains distinct from proof of authorship: see the context.
More quotes by Ali ibn Abi Talib
No one conceals something without its appearing in slips of the tongue and the features of the face.
Knowledge is better than wealth: knowledge guards you, while you guard wealth.