The futility of lineage without personal merit
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 389
وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى: مَنْ فَاتَهُ حَسَبُ نَفْسِهِ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ حَسَبُ آبَائِهِ.
In another version it is thus: Whoever misses personal attainment cannot be benefited by his forefathers’ attainments.