--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody has a talent, whether it's…" description: "\"Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or kite-flying, or brain surgery, or writing, everybody has a talent. And if they discover it, and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg" --- # Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or… ![“Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or kite-flying, or brain surgery, or writing, everybody has a talent. And if they discover it, and they turn it to their purposes and make a living out of it, then they become not "that person," but they become "that writer" or "that doctor" or…” quote by Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg) > “Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or kite-flying, or brain surgery, or writing, everybody has a talent. And if they discover it, and they turn it to their purposes and make a living out of it, then they become not "that person," but they become "that writer" or "that doctor" or "that supervisor."” [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discovering and applying one's unique talent transforms identity and career, turning a person into a professional embodiment of that skill. **In simple terms:** Finding a talent and using it defines you as a professional. Key Takeaway Identify and nurture your talent. Themes self‑actualization career identity Mood inspired determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - entrepreneurship - personal branding Key Concepts personal development skill mastery Questions to Reflect On - What talent have you neglected? - How can you monetize a skill you love? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without effort and market relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-surgery/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Everybody Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-talent-926916/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kites/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Person Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-writer-561129/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Scrapbooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrapbooking/) [Supervisors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supervisors/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-discover-769673/) [Talent Scrapbooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-scrapbooking-3525235/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-everybody-672899/) ## Related quotes > [You get talent when you discover the ground of your pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-giger/you-get-talent-when-you-discover-the-ground-of-your-pain/) [H. R. Giger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-giger/) > [In my mind, I'm writing for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/in-my-mind-i-m-writing-for-everybody/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I think you should learn about writing from everybody who has ever written that has anything to teach you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-think-you-should-learn-about-writing-from-everybody-who-has-ever/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [A lot of writing is everybody being revealed, but the reader should feel like only they are being revealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/a-lot-of-writing-is-everybody-being-revealed-but-the-reader-should/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I don't think there are any secrets to writing in the - everybody has their own techniques. You must be widely read, that's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-secrets-to-writing-in-the-everybody-has/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [“Pretty soon...do you realize there'll be so many additional childhoods and pasts with everybody writing about them everybody'll give up reading in despair-There'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/pretty-soon-do-you-realize-there-ll-be-so-many-additional-childhoods/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“She was writing for everybody, for nobody, for our age, for her own...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-was-writing-for-everybody-for-nobody-for-our-age-for-her-own/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [You go through high school and college the same way: never listening to your coaches because you're the best. But when you get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/you-go-through-high-school-and-college-the-same-way-never-listening/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [Not everybody has a talent for painting, or for the piano, or for dance. But we can write our way into the artist's head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/not-everybody-has-a-talent-for-painting-or-for-the-piano-or-for-dance/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [I believe this, we are all gifted for the talent - God blesses everybody with a talent. Mine was to play football. Some are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-believe-this-we-are-all-gifted-for-the-talent-god-blesses-everybody/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [Everybody has talent and it's just a matter of moving around until you've discovered what it is. A talent is a combination of something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/everybody-has-talent-and-it-s-just-a-matter-of-moving-around-until/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Everybody has a talent, but its what you do with that talent to make it great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/everybody-has-a-talent-but-its-what-you-do-with-that-talent-to-make/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/everybody-has-talent-but-ability-takes-hard-work/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I used to rap as a kid and people were impressed by it, so it gave me the drive to keep going. Everybody has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-brown/i-used-to-rap-as-a-kid-and-people-were-impressed-by-it-so-it-gave-me/) [Danny Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-brown/) > [Everybody has talent, it's just a matter of moving around until you've discovered what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/everybody-has-talent-it-s-just-a-matter-of-moving-around-until-you-ve/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## More by Harlan Ellison > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They change scapegoats at the networks more regularly than some people change socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-change-scapegoats-at-the-networks-more-regularly-than-some/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They minute people fall in love they become liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-minute-people-fall-in-love-they-become-liars/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Repent, Harlequin," said the Ticktock Man. "Get stuffed," the Harlequin replied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/repent-harlequin-said-the-ticktock-man-get-stuffed-the-harlequin/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Living under the land, under the sea, in the belly of AM, whom we created...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/living-under-the-land-under-the-sea-in-the-belly-of-am-whom-we-created/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I have no mouth. And I must scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [There in the midst of the Amazon Jungle, Simon Haskell has cobbled up for himself a replica of an Art Deco salon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-in-the-midst-of-the-amazon-jungle-simon-haskell-has-cobbled-up/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [For the first time we have a weapon that nobody has used for thirty years. This gives me great hope for the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/for-the-first-time-we-have-a-weapon-that-nobody-has-used-for-thirty/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“There are forces in the world today, Mr. Winsocki, that are invisibly working to make us all carbon copies of one another. Forces that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-are-forces-in-the-world-today-mr-winsocki-that-are-invisibly/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/men-rarely-if-ever-manage-to-dream-up-a-god-superior-to-themselves/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I write a kind of surreal fantasy, but they can't put 'surreal fantasy' on a paperback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-write-a-kind-of-surreal-fantasy-but-they-can-t-put-surreal-fantasy/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Don't start an argument with somebody who has a microphone when you don't. They'll make you look like chopped liver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/don-t-start-an-argument-with-somebody-who-has-a-microphone-when-you/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“I intend to keep writing stories that piss people off, that tell the particular kind of truth I think is valid, that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-intend-to-keep-writing-stories-that-piss-people-off-that-tell-the/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Who Needs the Taj Mahal when it's a drag to live at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/who-needs-the-taj-mahal-when-it-s-a-drag-to-live-at-all/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/like-a-wind-crying-endlessly-through-the-universe-time-carries-away/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) [Explore all 165 Harlan Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or kite-flying, or brain surgery, or writing, everybody has a talent. And if they discover it, and they turn it to their purposes and make a living out of it, then they become not \"that person,\" but they become \"that writer\" or \"that doctor\" or \"that supervisor.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harlan Ellison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scrapbooking-or-kite-flying-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scrapbooking-or-kite-flying-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/harlan-ellison-2133_brain_everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scra_1189687.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everybody has a talent, whether it's scrapbooking, or kite-flying, or brain surgery, or writing, everybody…” — Harlan Ellison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harlan Ellison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everybody has a talent, whether it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scrapbooking-or-kite-flying-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/everybody-has-a-talent-whether-it-s-scrapbooking-or-kite-flying-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```