--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line on skills is this: A…" description: "\"“The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a skill, it will help you get..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/donald-o-clifton-14648_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skil_86199.png" --- # The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to… ![“The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a skill, it will help you get a little better, but it will not cover for a lack of talent. Instead, as you build your strengths, skills will actually prove most valuable when…” quote by Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/donald-o-clifton-14648_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skil_86199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/donald-o-clifton-14648_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skil_86199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/donald-o-clifton-14648_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skil_86199.png) > ““The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a skill, it will help you get a little better, but it will not cover for a lack of talent. Instead, as you build your strengths, skills will actually prove most valuable when they are combined with genuine talent.”” [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. Skills transmit proven methods, but true performance emerges when those methods align with innate talent. **In simple terms:** Skills need talent to shine. Key Takeaway Combine skill with natural ability. Themes skill development talent learning performance Mood analytical pragmatic Type educational professional When to use this quote - career advancement - team building - education programs Key Concepts skill acquisition strengths Practical Applications - talent management - coaching Questions to Reflect On - When does a skill become a strength? - How can you identify talent gaps? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) ## Related quotes > [I always say to students, 'You're never going to have all the skills, but you have to have a skill.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/i-always-say-to-students-you-re-never-going-to-have-all-the-skills/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [“You're doing this to learn. To get skill, and to master it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-s/you-re-doing-this-to-learn-to-get-skill-and-to-master-it/) [Naya S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-s/) > [I'm always very keen to learn a skill or a language for my films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/i-m-always-very-keen-to-learn-a-skill-or-a-language-for-my-films/) [Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/) > [“Learning how to set and achieve goals is simply a skill. Once you learn this skill, the whole world is your oyster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoa-bui/learning-how-to-set-and-achieve-goals-is-simply-a-skill-once-you/) Khoa Bui > [I love doing characters that challenge me. I'd love to do something that requires me to change physically or learn a skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-riley/i-love-doing-characters-that-challenge-me-i-d-love-to-do-something/) Charlotte Riley > [It's such a gift in any project when you get to actually learn a skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/it-s-such-a-gift-in-any-project-when-you-get-to-actually-learn-a-skill/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [In today's fast-changing world, it's not so much what you know anymore that counts, because often what you know is old. It is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/in-today-s-fast-changing-world-it-s-not-so-much-what-you-know-anymore-2/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I had to learn a skill set. I think I had the materials to be a good comedy writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-had-to-learn-a-skill-set-i-think-i-had-the-materials-to-be-a-good/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Few kids seek to learn a skill specifically designed to impress people unless they feel less than impressive themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/few-kids-seek-to-learn-a-skill-specifically-designed-to-impress/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [Learn more than one skill, it brings good success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyn-shaw/learn-more-than-one-skill-it-brings-good-success/) [Cyn Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyn-shaw/) > [I learnt the theory of movement, which I still teach sometimes. I was very, very ambitious to learn a skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-cilento/i-learnt-the-theory-of-movement-which-i-still-teach-sometimes-i-was/) [Diane Cilento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-cilento/) > [Skill is less important than awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-collier/skill-is-less-important-than-awareness/) Graham Collier > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [It's a real skill to be able to publicise yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-macfadyen/it-s-a-real-skill-to-be-able-to-publicise-yourself/) [Matthew Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-macfadyen/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by 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/) > [“Satisfactions provide the last clue to talent. As we described in the previous chapter, your strongest synaptic connections are designed so that when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/satisfactions-provide-the-last-clue-to-talent-as-we-described-in-the/) [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 Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) Michael Catherwood > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a skill, it will help you get a little better, but it will not cover for a lack of talent. Instead, as you build your strengths, skills will actually prove most valuable when they are combined with genuine talent.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald O. 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