Technique is the test of sincerity. If a thing isn’t worth getting the technique to say, it is of inferior value.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
Whatever talents I possess may suddenly diminish or suddenly increase. I can with ease become an ordinary fool. I may be one now. But it doesn’t do to upset one’s own vanity.
—Dylan Thomas (1914–53) Welsh Poet, Author
A man may and ought to pride himself more on his will than on his talent.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
An actress must never lose her ego—without it she has no talent.
—Norma Shearer (1902–83) Canadian Actress
History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Talents go by nature not by birth.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) King of Prussia, Military Strategist
Genius is talent provided with ideals.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
If, after all, men cannot always make history have a meaning, they can always act so that their own lives have one.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put those men back to work.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds talents and abilities of which we are not aware. The passions alone have the privilege of bringing them to light, and of giving us sometimes views more certain and more perfect than art could possibly produce.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
This is how I define talent; it is a gift that God has given us in secret, which we reveal without knowing it.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
Skill is the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
It is a happy talent to know how to play.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In the battle of existence, Talent is the punch; Tact is the clever footwork.
—Wilson Mizner (1876–1933) American Dramatist
Talent, like beauty, to be pardoned, must be obscure and unostentatious.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Literary Hostess
A man cannot make a pair of shoes rightly unless he do it in a devout manner.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Talent is able to achieve what is beyond other people’s capacity to achieve, yet not what is beyond their capacity of apprehension; therefore it at once finds its appreciators. The achievement of genius, on the other hand, transcends not only others’ capacity of achievement, but also their capacity of apprehension; therefore they do not become immediately aware of it. Talent is like the marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like the marksman who hits a target, as far as which others cannot even see.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Basketball Coach, Educator
Sir John Templeton: “My ethical principle in the first place was: ‘Where could I use my talents that God gave me to help the most people?’”
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
The more technique you have, the less you have to worry about it. The more technique there is, the less there is.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
Talent is the capacity of doing anything that depends on application and industry; it is a voluntary power, while genius is involuntary.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
There is no substitute for talent. Industry and all the virtues are of no avail.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
I have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent.
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–62) American Actor, Model, Singer
There is nothing new in art except talent.
—Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) Russian Short-Story Writer
Whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
To understand one thing well is better than understanding many things by halves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The greatest talents often lie buried out of sight.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
There are two kinds of talent, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
I believe that every person is born with talent.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
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