Arrogance Quote by Leon Uris
“Talent isn't enough. You need motivation-and persistence, too: what Steinbeck called a blend of faith and arrogance. When you're young, plain old poverty can be enough, along with an insatiable hunger for recognition. You have to have that feeling of "I'll show them." If you don't have it, don't become a writer.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Exodus, 1958
Success needs talent plus drive, a mix of confidence and humility, especially when resources are scarce.
In simple terms: Talent alone isn’t enough; you need grit and confidence.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate persistence and self‑belief.
Themes
motivation
perseverance
confidence
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- starting a career
- overcoming poverty
- seeking fame
Key Concepts
faith
arrogance
hunger for recognition
Questions to Reflect On
- What fuels your inner “show them” drive?
- How do you balance confidence with humility?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can blind you to constructive criticism.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
