I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts out, have condemned himself to second-rate thoughts, and to second-rate friends
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Storybook happiness involves every form of pleasant thumb-twiddling; true happiness involves the full use of one’s powers and talents.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford not to conciliate, whose faithful work will answer for him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
I believe that traditional wisdom is incomplete. A composer can have all the talent of Mozart and a passionate desire to succeed, but if he believes he cannot compose music, he will come to nothing. He will not try hard enough. He will give up too soon when the elusive right melody takes too long to materialize.
—Martin Seligman (b.1942) American Psychologist, Author
Two kinds of men generally best succeed in political life; men of no principle, but of great talent; and men of no talent, but of one principle – that of obedience to their superiors.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
Everyone has talent at twenty-five. The difficulty is to have it at fifty.
—Edgar Degas (1834–1917) French Painter, Sculpture, Printer maker, Artist
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, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
—Michael Jordan (b.1963) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
I believe talent is like electricity. We don’t understand electricity. We use it. You can plug into it and light up a lamp, keep a heart pump going, light a cathedral, or you can electrocute a person with it. Electricity will do all that.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
Talent isn’t genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing. I won’t be a commonplace dauber, so I don’t intend to try any more.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
No man who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well, ever loses his self-respect.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
All of us do not have equal talents, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
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
Happiness is a how; not a what. A talent, not an object.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
It is a happy talent to know how to play.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Each man has his own vocation. The talent is the call. There is one direction in which all space is open to him. He has faculties silently inviting him thither to endless exertion. He is like a ship in a river; he runs against obstructions on every side but one; on that side all obstruction is taken away, and he sweeps serenely over a deepening channel into an infinite sea. This talent and this call depend on his organization, or the mode in which the general soul incarnates itself in him. He inclines to do something which is easy to him, and good when it is done, but which no other man can do. He has no rival. For the more truly he consults his own powers, the more difference will his work exhibit from the work of any other. His ambition is exactly proportioned to his powers. The height of the pinnacle is determined by the breadth of the base. Every man has this call of the power to do somewhat unique, and no man has any other call. The pretence that he has another call, a summons by name and personal election and outward “signs that mark him extraordinary, and not in the roll of common men,” is fanaticism, and betrays obtuseness to perceive that there is one mind in all the individuals, and no respect of persons therein.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.—Skilful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.
—Laurence Olivier (1907–89) English Actor, Producer, Director