TALENT QUOTES III

quotations about talent

Talent quote

It is probable that a greater proportion of talent is destroyed, or rendered valueless, by riches than by poverty; and the rapid mutation of society, I think, demonstrates this to be the fact.

FRANCIS WAYLAND

The Elements of Moral Science


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

Tags: Fran Lebowitz


Talent is perhaps nothing other than successfully sublimated rage.

THEODOR W. ADORNO

Minima Moralia

Tags: Theodor W. Adorno


A best-seller is the gilded tomb of a mediocre talent.

LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH

"Art and Letters", Afterthoughts

Tags: Logan Pearsall Smith


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


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

Tags: Louisa May Alcott


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

Tags: Edmund Burke


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


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


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

Tags: W. H. Auden


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


Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

The Valley of Fear

Tags: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


Talent is like electricity. We don't understand electricity. We use it.

MAYA ANGELOU

attributed, Black Women Writers at Work

Tags: Maya Angelou


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


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


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

Tags: Zig Ziglar


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


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


The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.

EMILE ZOLA

Works of Emile Zola

Tags: Emile Zola