--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether or not you discover your talents…" description: "\"Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. If you've never been sailing, or picked up an instrument, or t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/ken-robinson-2219_been_whether-or-not-you-discover-your-talents_1892199.jpg" --- # Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is… ![“Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. If you've never been sailing, or picked up an instrument, or tried to teach or to write fiction, how would you know if you had a talent for these things?” quote by Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/ken-robinson-2219_been_whether-or-not-you-discover-your-talents_1892199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/ken-robinson-2219_been_whether-or-not-you-discover-your-talents_1892199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/ken-robinson-2219_been_whether-or-not-you-discover-your-talents_1892199.jpg) > “Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. If you've never been sailing, or picked up an instrument, or tried to teach or to write fiction, how would you know if you had a talent for these things?” [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent and passion emerge when opportunities are provided; without exposure, potential remains hidden. **In simple terms:** Opportunities reveal hidden talents. Key Takeaway Create chances to explore new activities. Themes education creativity potential Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational motivational When to use this quote - school curricula - after‑school programs - career counseling - community workshops Key Concepts growth mindset experiential learning self discovery Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities could you offer to discover new passions? - How does exposure shape self‑belief? A Different Perspective Limited resources can restrict access to opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover/) [Discover Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover-talents-2741201/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-talent-828604/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Partly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partly/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Picked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked/) [Sailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailing/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) [Talents Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents-passions-1541683/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want everybody to try to sound like something; I think that God has given us each unique talents and passions. The things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/i-don-t-want-everybody-to-try-to-sound-like-something-i-think-that/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [A timeless lesson for a deeply fulfilling life is to discover your calling, that special work or consuming occupation that fully engages your special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/a-timeless-lesson-for-a-deeply-fulfilling-life-is-to-discover-your/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [No man can discover his own talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/no-man-can-discover-his-own-talents/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [“To be happy, fulfilled, and to achieve success and prosperity, discover your talents, and then use them to accomplish your purpose, regardless of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-chaves-mes-n/to-be-happy-fulfilled-and-to-achieve-success-and-prosperity-discover/) [Mauricio Chaves Mesén](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-chaves-mes-n/) > [Parenting forces us to get to know ourselves better than we ever might have imagined we could--and in many new ways. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/parenting-forces-us-to-get-to-know-ourselves-better-than-we-ever/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [When you marry your talents and passions, you can find your path to a purposeful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/when-you-marry-your-talents-and-passions-you-can-find-your-path-to-a/) [Senora ROy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I never picked up a guitar as a kid, partly because my dad didn't want the noise in our little back-to-back in Sheffield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-cocker/i-never-picked-up-a-guitar-as-a-kid-partly-because-my-dad-didn-t-want/) [Joe Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-cocker/) > [I started playing violin in the 5th grade. They had a program in school where you could get out of class to go play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-started-playing-violin-in-the-5th-grade-they-had-a-program-in/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I picked up the bass kind of postpunk-style. There's a real art to not learning how to play an instrument and being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/i-picked-up-the-bass-kind-of-postpunk-style-there-s-a-real-art-to-not/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn't know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ross/i-started-painting-as-a-hobby-when-i-was-little-i-didn-t-know-i-had/) [Bob Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ross/) > [You have to know what your talent is, and you have to exploit it. And then, while you're exploiting that talent, you find ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/you-have-to-know-what-your-talent-is-and-you-have-to-exploit-it-and/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [“Ah, i just know. That's my talent, if you were wondering. I just know things." She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/ah-i-just-know-that-s-my-talent-if-you-were-wondering-i-just-know/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [All we need to do is pay attention to ourselves and pay attention when somebody gives you a compliment based on something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/all-we-need-to-do-is-pay-attention-to-ourselves-and-pay-attention/) [Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/) > [I never starved. And you know, whatever talent I have, I've relied on that, versus image or star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-never-starved-and-you-know-whatever-talent-i-have-i-ve-relied-on/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [You know your talent. You know if you work hard, your hard work is going to pay off one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/you-know-your-talent-you-know-if-you-work-hard-your-hard-work-is/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) ## More by Ken Robinson > [“Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/shakespeare-s-hamlet-there-is-nothing-either-good-or-bad-but-thinking/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“As humanity becomes more numerous and interwoven, living respectfully with diversity is not just an ethical choice, it is a practical imperative. There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/as-humanity-becomes-more-numerous-and-interwoven-living-respectfully/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [In a world where lifelong employment in the same job is a thing of the past, creativity is not a luxury. It is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/in-a-world-where-lifelong-employment-in-the-same-job-is-a-thing-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we-aim-too-high-and-fail-it-s/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Very often, organizations are inflexible because there is too little communication between functions; they are too segregated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/very-often-organizations-are-inflexible-because-there-is-too-little/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Every education system on Earth has the same hierarchy of subjects: at the top are mathematics and languages, then the humanities, and the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/every-education-system-on-earth-has-the-same-hierarchy-of-subjects-at/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“We are all born with extraordinary powers of imagination, intelligence, feeling, intuition, spirituality, and of physical and sensory awareness. (p.9)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-are-all-born-with-extraordinary-powers-of-imagination-intelligence/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [You create your life, and you can recreate it, too. In times of economic downturn and uncertainty, it's more important than ever to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/you-create-your-life-and-you-can-recreate-it-too-in-times-of-economic/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“I asked a professor of nanotechnology what they use to measure the unthinkable small distances of nanospace? He said it was the nanometre. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/i-asked-a-professor-of-nanotechnology-what-they-use-to-measure-the/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [We need to eliminate the existing hierarchy of subjects. Elevating some disciplines over others only reinforces outmoded assumptions of industrialism and offends the principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-need-to-eliminate-the-existing-hierarchy-of-subjects-elevating/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Too many people never connect with their true talents and therefore don't know what they are capable of achieving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/too-many-people-never-connect-with-their-true-talents-and-therefore/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [You can't just give someone a creativity injection. You have to create an environment for curiosity and a way to encourage people and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/you-can-t-just-give-someone-a-creativity-injection-you-have-to-create/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn't need to be reformed -- it needs to be transformed. The key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/the-fact-is-that-given-the-challenges-we-face-education-doesn-t-need/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Private imaginings may have no outcomes in the world at all. Creativity does. Being creative involves doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/private-imaginings-may-have-no-outcomes-in-the-world-at-all/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Public schools were not only created in the interests of industrialism—they were created in the image of industrialism. In many ways, they reflect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/public-schools-were-not-only-created-in-the-interests-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) [Explore all 170 Ken Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. 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