Quotes on Talent

Genius is the talent for seeing things straight.

Author: Maude Adams

A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.

Author: Joseph Addison

There is no such thing as talent. There is pressure.

Author: Alfred Adler

Your talent is in your choice.

Author: Stella Adler

I don't have any focus groups on talent and programming. If I need five people in a mall to be paid $40 to tell me how to do my job, I shouldn't do my job.

Author: Roger Ailes

Ed Sullivan will be around as long as someone else has talent.

Author: Fred Allen

The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have.

Author: Woody Allen

To do easily what is difficult for others is the mark of talent. To do what is impossible for talent is the mark of genius.

Author: Henri Amiel

Doing easily what others find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius.

Author: Henri Amiel

I went to the High School for Performing Arts, and to Howard University on a talent scholarship.

Author: Anthony Anderson

The talent for discovering the unique and marketable characteristics of a product and service is a designer's most valuable asset.

Author: Primo Angeli

I believe that every person is born with talent.

Author: Maya Angelou

Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.

Author: Maya Angelou

I had this talent for these stupid little teenage songs.

Author: Paul Anka

Sometimes you're trapped in writing songs and you don't have enough distance from what you do anymore and you need the talent and the years of other people to come and jump in.

Author: Keren Ann

Talent is like a faucet, while it is open, one must write.

Author: Jean Anouilh

Those who are blessed with the most talent don't necessarily outperform everyone else. It's the people with follow-through who excel.

Author: Mary Ash

Another thing that's pathetic is this rule that you have to look ugly to get respect as an actress. Jessica Lange had to make herself look really bad to prove that she had amazing talent.

Author: Kevyn Aucoin

It takes little talent to see what lies under one's nose, a good deal to know in what direction to point that organ.

Author: W. Auden

It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?

Author: Jane Austen

In England, the profession of the law is that which seems to hold out the strongest attraction to talent, from the circumstance, that in it ability, coupled with exertion, even though unaided by patronage, cannot fail of obtaining reward.

Author: Charles Babbage

Any idiot can get laid when they're famous. That's easy. It's getting laid when you're not famous that takes some talent.

Author: Kevin Bacon

Any writer, I suppose, feels that the world into which he was born is nothing less than a conspiracy against the cultivation of his talent.

Author: James Baldwin

I regret the passing of the studio system. I was very appreciative of it because I had no talent.

Author: Lucille Ball

I began as a boy with artistic talent... as a visual artist... I thought that was what I'd become and in my late teens drifted into reading serious literature.

Author: Russell Banks

In Mozart and Salieri we see the contrast between the genius which does what it must and the talent which does what it can.

Author: Maurice Baring

My lips are big, but my talent is bigger.

Author: Fantasia Barrino

One lapse of judgment can cost and talent isn't everything. A huge slice of good fortune in needed to make it to the top, and without that element of luck, you've no chance.

Author: John Barrow

People realize that Salieri is not the man we saw in the Amadeus movie. That man had no talent. It was a great movie, but the Salieri character was a big fiction.

Author: Cecilia Bartoli

I'm a classic example of what can happen if you follow your inner voice. I was cursed with interests and some talent in many different areas. It confuses people.

Author: Dirk Benedict

When I was a young actor... the more different you were from the part you played, the more talent it reflected.

Author: Dirk Benedict

Talent is only the starting point.

Author: Irving Berlin

The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck.

Author: Hector Berlioz

An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.

Author: William Bernbach

I really feel that the talent I have is acting. Freedom and the possibility of play-that is what I like to have.

Author: Jacqueline Bisset

Everyone the world over talks about British actors and British talent and I think that's because we were trained - until now - in theatre.

Author: Brenda Blethyn

Living composers writing for big band are very few and far between. There are not a lot of them, and I have a talent for doing it. I am zeroing in on what I do best.

Author: Carla Bley

Let the path be open to talent.

Author: Napoleon Bonaparte

Our team has a lot of talent. I hope that soon we will break out with four or five goals and avoid overtime.

Author: Peter Bondra

It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't.

Author: Barry Bonds

Genius makes its observations in short-hand; talent writes them out at length.

Author: Christian Bovee

A lot of times I find that people who are blessed with the most talent don't ever develop that attitude, and the ones who aren't blessed in that way are the most competitive and have the biggest heart.

Author: Tom Brady

Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent.

Author: Marlon Brando

Dali is like a man who hesitates between talent and genius, or, as one might once have said, between vice and virtue.

Author: Andre Breton

I feel like directing is an innate talent.

Author: Jordana Brewster

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.

Author: Mel Brooks

I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we'd have him on the talent shows. He kind of emulated me, and did the best he could.

Author: James Brown

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.

Author: H. Brown, Jr.

The primary function of a theater is not to please itself, or even to please its audience. It is to serve talent.

Author: Robert Brustein

I adore being with Roberta. I adore being in her spiritual light. I adore being close to her talent and gifts.

Author: Peabo Bryson

Obviously you have to have talent in order to play so you can't overlook that, but we won't overlook the character issue when it comes to talent because if they have talent and they don't have character, it's going to be very difficult to coach that person.

Author: Tim Buckley

Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.

Author: Edward Bulwer-Lytton

What mankind wants is not talent; it is purpose.

Author: Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Genius does what it must, and talent does what it can.

Author: Edward Bulwer-Lytton

The standing ovation threw me... to be held in such regard in a town so full of talent is quite something.

Author: Michael Caine

I'll always be there because I'm a skilled professional actor. Whether or not I've any talent is beside the point.

Author: Michael Caine

What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspiration is nothing other than finding the right road empirically, following one's nose, taking shortcuts.

Author: Italo Calvino

The cut of a garment speaks of intellect and talent and the color of temperament and heart.

Author: Thomas Carlyle

If you've got a talent, protect it.

Author: Jim Carrey

It's like a novelist writing far out things. If it makes a point and makes sense, then people like to read that. But if it's off in left field and goes over the edge, you lose it. The same with musical talent, I think.

Author: Johnny Cash

To note an artist's limitations is but to define his talent. A reporter can write equally well about everything that is presented to his view, but a creative writer can do his best only with what lies within the range and character of his deepest sympathies.

Author: Willa Cather

Benevolence alone will not make a teacher, nor will learning alone do it. The gift of teaching is a peculiar talent, and implies a need and a craving in the teacher himself.

Author: John Chapman

I believe, however, that such abnormal moments can be found in everyone, and it is all the more fortunate when they occur in individuals with creative talent or with clairvoyant powers.

Author: Giorgio Chirico

I think I've got something when I'm onscreen, but that's nothing to do with acting or talent.

Author: Julie Christie

I don't think there are really enough meetings in Britain for our athletes to compete properly, and because of this a lot of the talent we have has been stunted.

Author: Linford Christie

I've known Shawn for several years. And he's just an amazing talent. He's a great writer, a marvelous, marvelous guitar player, and plays really good fiddle.

Author: Guy Clark

You know in 1982, the year we came in tied for 3rd, we probably had a better team - I mean as far as talent. When we came back the following year and won it, our pitching staff was a little more experienced and it was such a thrill.

Author: Roger Clemens

I think the diva is kind of a cliche. My definition of a diva is somebody whose talent does not match what they're trying to play, so all this temperament comes out.

Author: Glenn Close

Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem.

Author: Jonathan Coe

I'm not sure there are enough coaches in the system that can take young talent and consistently get them into the top five in the world.

Author: Sebastian Coe

Character is more important than talent.

Author: Edwin Cole

Common sense is perhaps the most equally divided, but surely the most underemployed, talent in the world.

Author: Christiane Collage

For the amount of talent I had - and I couldn't dance, act, or tell a joke - I enjoyed a tremendous career.

Author: Perry Como

A best-seller is the golden touch of mediocre talent.

Author: Cyril Connolly

A talent somewhat above mediocrity, shrewd and not too sensitive, is more likely to rise in the world than genius.

Author: Charles Cooley

Worried about being a dull fellow? You might develop your talent for being irritating.

Author: Mason Cooley

Talent is what you possess; genius is what possesses you.

Author: Malcolm Cowley

I think the most important thing a woman can have - next to talent, of course - is her hairdresser.

Author: Joan Crawford

I think that the most important thing a woman can have - next to talent, of course - is her hairdresser.

Author: Joan Crawford

The poverty from which I have suffered could be diagnosed as "Soho" poverty. It comes from having the airs and graces of a genius and no talent.

Author: Quentin Crisp

I don't think there's any such thing as teaching people photography, other than influencing them a little. People have to be their own learners. They have to have a certain talent.

Author: Imogen Cunningham

I have tried to explore the little talent I have for writing.

Author: Cyril Cusack

There is no spray can called 'Instant Stardom,' only talent can keep you at the top.

Author: Jim Dale

All I really had was my talent. Without that I wouldn't be welcome at the White House.

Author: Sammy Davis, Jr.

Everyone has talent at twenty-five. The difficulty is to have it at fifty.

Author: Edgar Degas

As a teenager I was so insecure. I was the type of guy that never fitted in because he never dared to choose. I was convinced I had absolutely no talent at all. For nothing. And that thought took away all my ambition too.

Author: Johnny Depp

Celebrity is the chastisement of merit and the punishment of talent.

Author: Emily Dickinson

Obviously, for me, story is first and foremost, even in the face of the attractive idea of having all the cast there, or having a great piece of talent come to it.

Author: Vin Diesel

I've never taken vocal lessons. My early trumpet training and a fortunate talent for singing has always been enough for me. In the case of rock singing, I've always felt it was better to remain a bit untrained to maintain your individuality.

Author: Ronnie Dio

If you had the opportunity and some talent, there was no way you couldn't progress, because it was an open market. There was the advertising world, and there was the documentary world.

Author: Richard Donner

I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.

Author: Rita Dove

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

Author: Arthur Doyle

It must be remembered that the Bush White House has a separate talent for character assassination that must not be confused with a talent for governance.

Author: Richard Dreyfuss

I really think that aside from admiring my talent you really admire me as a person and as a woman.

Author: Katherine Dunham

Aside from a few master teachers that we have had over the years, this has been a completely local talent development. But people have started to come now from Chicago, we have a number of students from Chicago and different places of the country and even in the world.

Author: Katherine Dunham

I'd go dance at talent shows, and because I was young I had the upper hand on a lot of other crews. People thought it was cute. I used that to my advantage.

Author: Jermaine Dupri

Genius is talent set on fire by courage.

Author: Henry Dyke

The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

Author: Albert Einstein

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.

Author: Albert Einstein

When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.

Author: Albert Einstein

I have a definite talent for convincing people to try something new. I am a good salesman. When I'm on form, I can sell anything.

Author: Brian Eno

No one respects a talent that is concealed.

Author: Desiderius Erasmus

Concealed talent brings no reputation.

Author: Desiderius Erasmus

The buried talent is the sunken rock on which most lives strike and founder.

Author: Frederick Faber

The German mind has a talent for making no mistakes but the very greatest.

Author: Clifton Fadiman

Obviously talent gets you to a certain point, but it's what you do with it, how you handle.

Author: Brett Favre

The first thing they were told was how to hone their talent. Then they were told how to market their talent, discipline their talent and type their talent. And then they were told they might as well forget about talent.

Author: Esther Fein

America tends to worship the modest talent because it doesn't put us in an uncomfortable position vis-a-vis the artist.

Author: Carlisle Floyd

I have no interest in directing. I've no talent for it.

Author: Victor Garber

For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.

Author: John Gardner

When you sit down and focus on the matches and series that took place during the 12 month period it strikes you just how broad the talent pool is in international cricket is today.

Author: Sunil Gavaskar

And I told her point blank, you've got everything to live for. You've got such talent. You're back singing great, lose the weight. And she went and did it, and look at her now!

Author: David Gest

The real issue is not talent as an independent element, but talent in relationship to will, desire, and persistence. Talent without these things vanishes and even modest talent with those characteristics grows.

Author: Milton Glaser

In my early days I was a contract player at Universal and I had a wonderful mentor named Monique James, who was head of talent there, and she used to drag me on sets to do parts.

Author: Sharon Gless

I would not be able to pen an academic and dry diatribe. I have too much talent for that.

Author: Theo Gogh

Genius is the talent of a person who is dead.

Author: Edmond Goncourt

Don't show off every day, or you'll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keeps up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talent.

Author: Baltasar Gracian

Sponsors and networks will really go all out and simply evaluate people on the basis of talent.

Author: Norman Granz

I really believe you can predict when someone has a great attitude, a real well of talent.

Author: Taylor Hackford

Theatre is about people, not buildings. Incalculable damage has been done to the expert talent a company needs - from wardrobe to lighting technicians.

Author: Edward Hall

How man evolved with such an incredible reservoir of talent and such fantastic diversity isn't completely understood... he knows so little and has nothing to measure himself against.

Author: Edward Hall

I think I have the skills. I'm a great judge of talent. I just know basketball.

Author: Tim Hardaway

I praise the Lord here today. I know that all my talent and all my ability comes from him, and without him I'm nothing and I thank him for his great blessing.

Author: Ernie Harwell

The talent that I was blessed with was really for the theater.

Author: David Hasselhoff

Talent is a faculty that is highly developed, but genius commands all the faculties.

Author: Francis Hedge

Assuming that his talent can survive the increasing strain, there is one scarcely avoidable danger that lies ahead of the pupil on his road to mastery.

Author: Eugen Herrigel

It takes good clients to make a good advertising agency. Regardless of how much talent an ad agency may have, it is ineffective without good products and services to advertise.

Author: Morris Hite

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents.

Author: Eric Hoffer

Youth itself is a talent, a perishable talent.

Author: Eric Hoffer

The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius.

Author: Oliver Holmes

I was much more interested in the orchestra than the piano, but I did become fairly proficient as a pianist and my teachers felt I had talent and wanted me to become a good concert pianist and earn my living that way.

Author: Alan Hovhaness

The truth of the matter is the real industry is in LA and the cream of the talent is there.

Author: Charlie Hunnam

I think being an actress is more how to cope with the fact that you can't do anything else than to express a talent. It's a way of being untalented for anything.

Author: Isabelle Huppert

There is no substitute for talent. Industry and all its virtues are of no avail.

Author: Aldous Huxley

I was the only Christian on the cast, but that was cool because we all respected each others talent and mostly they respected me a lot even though I was the only Christian.

Author: Victoria Jackson

Hope is a talent like any other.

Author: Storm Jameson

One of the things I noticed more in this draft than in any recent drafts was the importance of the character issue. Players who had baggage, like Justice, fell much farther than his talent dictated. But a lot of coaches didn't want to take the chance.

Author: Ron Jaworski

The British have a remarkable talent for keeping calm, even when there is no crisis.

Author: Franklin Jones

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.

Author: Erica Jong

I think I do too many voices in these shows. I think it's because we have trouble getting voice talent.

Author: Mike Judge

Sometimes, indeed, there is such a discrepancy between the genius and his human qualities that one has to ask oneself whether a little less talent might not have been better.

Author: Carl Jung

I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.

Author: John Kennedy

Some people have such a talent for making the best of a bad situation that they go around creating bad situations so they can make the best of them.

Author: Jean Kerr

Where a beast would have claws, I was born with talent.

Author: Klaus Kinski

So I have this ability, if I may say so, to spot talent.

Author: Sally Kirkland

I think when there's enough will and aggression, there's no shortage of talent either.

Author: Jurgen Klinsmann

The manuals we got from IBM would show examples of programs and I knew I could do a heck of a lot better than that. So I thought I might have some talent.

Author: Donald Knuth

I do not want to die... until I have faithfully made the most of my talent and cultivated the seed that was placed in me until the last small twig has grown.

Author: Kathe Kollwitz

There's tons of people with talent; it's the system that's all screwed up.

Author: John Kricfalusi

Looking back at it now, I really feel like it was a gift because I don't know if I have the talent to become a prima ballerina. It's such a hard job to have. I don't have any regrets about it.

Author: Diane Kruger