--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men…" description: "\"Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.\" — Charles R. Swindoll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/charles-r-swindoll-878_commitment_nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men_81804.png" --- # Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They… ![“Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.” quote by Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/charles-r-swindoll-878_commitment_nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men_81804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/charles-r-swindoll-878_commitment_nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men_81804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/charles-r-swindoll-878_commitment_nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men_81804.png) > “Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.” [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent alone doesn't guarantee success; without resolve, abilities remain unrealized. **In simple terms:** Determination bridges talent and achievement. Key Takeaway Persistence matters more than skill alone. Themes motivation self-improvement achievement resilience mindset Mood determined inspired reflective Type motivational advice philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic pursuits - entrepreneurial ventures - artistic projects - personal goals Key Concepts determination talent success effort Practical Applications - coaching programs - goal‑setting workshops Questions to Reflect On - What habits cultivate determination? - How can you turn talent into tangible results? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/there-is-nothing-more-common-than-unsuccessful-men-with-talent/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nothing-in-this-world-can-take-the-place-of-persistence-talent-will-4/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/nothing-in-the-world-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with-2/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with-talent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/nothing-in-the-world-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Most people fail not for lack of talent but for lack of imagination. You can get a lot of this information by sitting down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/most-people-fail-not-for-lack-of-talent-but-for-lack-of-imagination/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [Nobody - but nobody - has ever become really proficient at golf without practice, without doing a lot of thinking and then hitting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/nobody-but-nobody-has-ever-become-really-proficient-at-golf-without/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [“Most of the time it’s not lack of experience that’s holding us back, but rather the lack of determination to do what we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/most-of-the-time-it-s-not-lack-of-experience-that-s-holding-us-back/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [You will get the impression that something is preventing you from reaching your aims. This is because of lack of determination and dedication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/you-will-get-the-impression-that-something-is-preventing-you-from/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Failure is faced by those who lack determination and has a habit of making excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/failure-is-faced-by-those-who-lack-determination-and-has-a-habit-of/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Behind every Successful Man there is a Woman… Because Women don't run behind Unsuccessful Men!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/behind-every-successful-man-there-is-a-woman-because-women-don-t-run/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-believe-that-if-men-have-the-talent-to-invent-new-machines-that/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-their-authority/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [I do not think men have more talent. There are a great many women in the arts; novelists, painters, sculptors, poets-but the proportion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-fields/i-do-not-think-men-have-more-talent-there-are-a-great-many-women-in/) [Dorothy Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-fields/) > [We earth men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-earth-men-have-a-talent-for-ruining-big-beautiful-things/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Charles R. Swindoll > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [No pressure is greater than God's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-pressure-is-greater-than-god-s-power/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [For there to be true maturity, people must be given room to grow, which includes room to fail...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/for-there-to-be-true-maturity-people-must-be-given-room-to-grow-which/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Anyone who influences others is a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/anyone-who-influences-others-is-a-leader/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Faith is like lighting the torch that passes from one person to the next. You can't light the torch of another if yours isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/faith-is-like-lighting-the-torch-that-passes-from-one-person-to-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude... When my attitudes are right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-believe-the-single-most-significant-decision-i-can-make-on-a-day-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Two words will help you cope when you run low on hope: accept and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/two-words-will-help-you-cope-when-you-run-low-on-hope-accept-and-trust/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Thanksgiving speaks in clear, crisp tones of forgotten terms, like integrity - bravery - respect - freedom - discipline - sacrifice - godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/thanksgiving-speaks-in-clear-crisp-tones-of-forgotten-terms-like/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [All he asks is that we trust Him, that we stand before Him in integrity and faith. God is just waiting for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/all-he-asks-is-that-we-trust-him-that-we-stand-before-him-in/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Adversity is a good test of our resiliency, our ability to cope, to stand back up, to recover from misfortune. Adversity is a painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/adversity-is-a-good-test-of-our-resiliency-our-ability-to-cope-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I am a preacher. I'm involved in many other things, but, mainly, I preach. And I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-am-a-preacher-i-m-involved-in-many-other-things-but-mainly-i-preach/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There is only one you. God wanted you to be you. Don't you dare change just because you're outnumbered!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/there-is-only-one-you-god-wanted-you-to-be-you-don-t-you-dare-change/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) [Explore all 343 Charles R. Swindoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. 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