TALENT QUOTES III
quotations about talent
The possession of superior talent creates more wishes than it gratifies.
ELIZA COOK
Diamond Dust
I believe in talent. I know you're not supposed to believe in that anymore because you're supposed to believe if you just work hard you can do anything. That's how you succeed, maybe. But talent is something you're born with. You cannot acquire it by working hard, and you cannot lose it by lying around either.
FRAN LEBOWITZ
"In Conversation: Fran Lebowitz with Phong Bui", The Brooklyn Rail, March 4, 2014
Put yourself in the position of an impressionable young child hearing the word 'talent' being bandied around during coverage of the Olympic games in Rio. We hear that Jessica Ennis-Hill is a "talented" athlete; that Adam Peaty's "talent" was spotted early; and what a "talented" bunch of cyclists and rowers Great Britain has. The presumption is that talent is something you're born with. It's simple: you're talented or you're not.
BEN BURGESS
"'Talent' is a word that should be banned completely in schools", TES, August 17, 2016
If you ever find that you're the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.
AUSTIN KLEON
"Tread your talent cautiously", Times of India, May 31, 2017
Talent is perhaps nothing other than successfully sublimated rage.
THEODOR W. ADORNO
Minima Moralia
A best-seller is the gilded tomb of a mediocre talent.
LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH
"Art and Letters", Afterthoughts
As to great and commanding talents, they are the gift of Providence in some way unknown to us, they rise where they are least expected; they fail when everything seems disposed to produce them, or at least to call them forth.
EDMUND BURKE
letter to the Chevalier de la Bintinnaye, March 1791
We don't choose our talents; but we needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what we want.
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
Jo's Boys
It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ.
W. H. AUDEN
The Dyer's Hand
Talent is like electricity. We don't understand electricity. We use it.
MAYA ANGELOU
attributed, Black Women Writers at Work
I'm a firm believer that passion trumps talent. The philosophy of that is that talent is a commodity, and there are a lot of talented people in the world. But it is passion that propels you forward.
TANYA DUA
"Talent is a commodity", Digiday, December 8, 2016
Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
The Valley of Fear
Talent is a burden you can't throw off.
MIN KYM
"Sunday Book: Min Kym -- Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung", The Arts Desk, April 2, 2017
The idea that we are limited by genetic factors--innate talent--is a pernicious myth.
DAVID Z. HAMBRICK
"Is Innate Talent a Myth?", Scientific American, Septebmer 20, 2016
If you want to be the greatest at something, you need to find what your talent is.
GREG RUSEDSKI
"Q&A with tennis player Greg Rusedski", Financial Times, June 16, 2017
Nothing is more inspiring than a person with seemingly mediocre talent rising against the odds to become a champion by way of hard work, effort, and perseverance toward their goals.
ZIG ZIGLAR
Born to Win: Find Your Success Code
When your camels find no more nourishment, remove to a more fertile spot; and when your talents are not appreciated, seek another country.
IBN MUNIR
attributed, Day's Collacon
The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.
EMILE ZOLA
Works of Emile Zola
Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.
ROBERT HALF
"Recommended By Ronaldo", FourFourTwo, June 12, 2017
Men of genius are the worst possible models for men of talent.
MURRAY D. EDWARDS
attributed, Book of Humorous Quotations