Merere in Latin means “to distribute the reward”. Merit comes from meris, “portion”. We are therefore accustomed to thinking that the remuneration received reflects the merit acquired by a subject based on his level of skills (skills) and the effort expended at work. Merit is also attributed to those who give their lives for their country and are rewarded with the “medal of merit”. Those who have particularly distinguished themselves in their field of activity receive the cross of the order of merit of the Republic. The word merit is therefore used when one wants to highlight an exceptional performance. Conversely, one has “demerited” when the performance was mediocre, less than expected. To give the concept greater consistency, it is then essential to do a bit of exegesis.