--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our research into human strengths does…" description: "\"“Our research into human strengths does not support the extreme, and extremely misleading, assertion that 'you can play any role you set your mind to,'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/donald-o-clifton-14648_psychology_our-research-into-human-strengths-does-n_1353700.png" --- # Our research into human strengths does not support the… ![“Our research into human strengths does not support the extreme, and extremely misleading, assertion that 'you can play any role you set your mind to,' but it does lead us to this truth: Whatever you set your mind to, you will be most successful when you craft your role to play to your signature…” quote by Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/donald-o-clifton-14648_psychology_our-research-into-human-strengths-does-n_1353700.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/donald-o-clifton-14648_psychology_our-research-into-human-strengths-does-n_1353700.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/donald-o-clifton-14648_psychology_our-research-into-human-strengths-does-n_1353700.png) > ““Our research into human strengths does not support the extreme, and extremely misleading, assertion that 'you can play any role you set your mind to,' but it does lead us to this truth: Whatever you set your mind to, you will be most successful when you craft your role to play to your signature talents most of the time.”” [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from aligning roles with innate talents rather than forcing any role. **In simple terms:** Play to your strengths. Key Takeaway Match tasks to your natural abilities. Themes strengths role alignment success Mood inspirational strategic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - career planning - team building - education - personal growth Key Concepts talent development psychology Questions to Reflect On - Which talents should you cultivate further? - How can you balance strengths with learning new skills? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on strengths may ignore needed skill gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) ## Related quotes > [Life favors those who possess the powers of human strengths, such as a positive character, knowledge, diligence, determination and perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-favors-those-who-possess-the-powers-of-human-strengths-such-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The ideal mind of a thief is the state of mind of a successful thinker who knows what he does and labels not his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jr-grey/the-ideal-mind-of-a-thief-is-the-state-of-mind-of-a-successful/) Ben Jr Grey > [“Success, just like poverty is a state of mind. You can become successful instantly with a simple decision and commitment. Long lasting and pronounced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/success-just-like-poverty-is-a-state-of-mind-you-can-become/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [As an actor, you ask yourself what you can do to put yourself in a position where you can play that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-northam/as-an-actor-you-ask-yourself-what-you-can-do-to-put-yourself-in-a/) [Jeremy Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-northam/) > [Within the Arab circle there is a role wandering aimlessly in search of a hero. For some reason it seems to me that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gamal-abdel-nasser/within-the-arab-circle-there-is-a-role-wandering-aimlessly-in-search/) [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gamal-abdel-nasser/) > [“Play the role,” Lula said. “That’s what we do. We pick a role and we play it. What role you want to play?” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/play-the-role-lula-said-that-s-what-we-do-we-pick-a-role-and-we-play/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I play one role until I take on another, which is exactly what a professional actor should do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-play-one-role-until-i-take-on-another-which-is-exactly-what-a/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [A warrior does not spend his days trying to play the role that others have chosen for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-does-not-spend-his-days-trying-to-play-the-role-that-others/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“We can only fix our own lives. We cannot play the role of gods in someone else's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-brody/we-can-only-fix-our-own-lives-we-cannot-play-the-role-of-gods-in/) [Jessica Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-brody/) > [“Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring-you-should-spend-a-great/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Thus, the lesson we should draw from these people is not that each person's talents are infinitely malleable or that they can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/thus-the-lesson-we-should-draw-from-these-people-is-not-that-each/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Talents are your naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/talents-are-your-naturally-recurring-patterns-of-thought-feeling-or/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“1. Each person's talents are enduring and unique. 2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/1-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring-and-unique-2-each-person-s/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [To be successful in football, you have to do things that put the team first. Everyone has to play their role, and if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kraft/to-be-successful-in-football-you-have-to-do-things-that-put-the-team/) [Robert Kraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kraft/) ## More by Donald O. Clifton > [“The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skill-is-designed-to-make-the/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Rather, your smartness and your effectiveness depend on how well you capitalize on your strongest connections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/rather-your-smartness-and-your-effectiveness-depend-on-how-well-you/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [At an early age, you started hearing it: It's a virtue to be "well-rounded." ... They might as well have said : Become as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/at-an-early-age-you-started-hearing-it-it-s-a-virtue-to-be-well/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The 'big five' factors of personality are neuroticism (which reflects emotional stability), extroversion (seeking the company of others), openness (interest in new experiences, ideas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-big-five-factors-of-personality-are-neuroticism-which-reflects/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“If nature didn't whittle down your network to a smaller number of strongly forged connections, you would never become an adult. You would remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/if-nature-didn-t-whittle-down-your-network-to-a-smaller-number-of/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Thus, the lesson we should draw from these people is not that each person's talents are infinitely malleable or that they can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/thus-the-lesson-we-should-draw-from-these-people-is-not-that-each/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Such questions are labeled 'ipsative,' which means that if in reality you have both, the question makes it impossible for you to show up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/such-questions-are-labeled-ipsative-which-means-that-if-in-reality/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring-you-should-spend-a-great/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“First, he became aware of it. Many of us don't seem able to take even this step. Second, and most significant, he chose not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/first-he-became-aware-of-it-many-of-us-don-t-seem-able-to-take-even/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The only possible failure would be never managing to find the right role or the right partners to help you realize that strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-only-possible-failure-would-be-never-managing-to-find-the-right/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [Each of these strategies-get a little better at it, design a support system, use one of your strongest themes to overwhelm your weakness, find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/each-of-these-strategies-get-a-little-better-at-it-design-a-support/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The acid test of a strength? The ability is a strength only if you can fathom yourself doing it repeatedly, happily, and successfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-acid-test-of-a-strength-the-ability-is-a-strength-only-if-you-can/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“But if you find yourself thinking in the future, if you find yourself actually anticipating the activity-'When can I do this again?'-it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/but-if-you-find-yourself-thinking-in-the-future-if-you-find-yourself/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/what-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-really-knows-their-strengths/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) [Explore all 46 Donald O. Clifton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## More Psychology quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. 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I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. 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