When he could find his books, he made good use of them; none of us could come up to him in translations, and he had the knack of always understanding what he read.

If it had not been for this wretched habit, he might have got prizes at school, and still higher honours in after life; but as it was, he always came to grief.

The notes he had made on his work were never to be found; he spent more time in collecting his materials than he had to spare for using them; most of his work had to be scrambled through at the last moment, and was accordingly imperfect.

If Jack goes to business, he has a very poor chance of getting on, for untidiness and business will no more go together than oil and water.

Few things are more against a man in business than untidiness; people fight shy of him.
If his dress is untidy, his letters slovenly, his habits unpunctual, and his accounts confused, he will be regarded as a man not reliable, and not to be trusted, and people will refuse to transact with him.