Why a dozen, instead of only one or two? One reason is, because there's a dozen that are recognizably competent to do that poem. Do you remember "Beautiful Snow"? Do you remember "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother, Rock Me to Sleep"? Do you remember "Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight! Make me a child again just for to-night"? I remember them very well. Their authorship was claimed by most of the grown-up people who were alive at the time, and every claimant had one plausible argument in his favor, at least: to wit, he could have done the authoring; he was competent.英文原著 · 《Is Shakespeare Dead》
In a word, it makes wise men fools, and fools wise men, and both knaves. The very colour of this precious balm is bright and dazzling. If it be properly applied to the fist, that is in a decent manner, and a competent dose, it infallibly performs all the cures which the evils of humanity crave.' Thus having spoken, he killed the six horses of Bradshaw's coach, and went contemptuously on his way.英文原著 · 《A Book of Scoundrels》
She felt more competent to be the watcher of events. She even felt calmer, for knowledge increased almost always brings an undercurrent of increased tranquility, because of the sense of greater power that it produces in the mind. She looked better. She talked more easily. When dinner was over they went as usual to the garden, and when they were there Hermione referred to the projected meeting with the Marchesino. "I made a promise," she said. "I must keep it."
"Of course," said Artois. "But it seems to me that I am always being entertained, and that I am inhospitable--I do nothing in return.英文原著 · 《A Spirit in Prison》
The negotiations therefore begun with Denmark & Tuscany we protracted designedly until our powers had expired; and abstained from making new propositions to others having no colonies; because our commerce being an exchange of raw for wrought materials, is a competent price for admission into the colonies of those possessing them: but were we to give it, without price, to others, all would claim it without price on the ordinary ground of gentis amicissimae.英文原著 · 《AUTOBIOGRAPHY》
I invited to my house the most competent among the dramatic critics of the London papers, without forewarning them of the object and asked them kindly to hear me and express frankly their opinion, assuring them that if it should not be a favourable one, I would not feel badly over it.英文原著 · 《Autobiographies》
She said she couldn't have me messing around that way, I blame her as much as anybody that I am not now a competent performer on the trapeze.英文原著 · 《Back Home》
Robert Moog was a generous, kind person, extraordinarily competent engineer. Robert Moog was a generous, kind person, extraordinarily competent engineer.演讲 · 《The call to learn ~ Clifford Stoll》