--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had only ordinary capacity but…" description: "\"I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.\" — Maria Mitchell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg" --- # I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency. ![“I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.” quote by Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg) > “I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.” [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite modest abilities, relentless perseverance leads to remarkable achievements. **In simple terms:** Persistence beats talent. Key Takeaway Keep persisting despite limitations. Themes perseverance humility achievement science Mood inspirational hopeful serious Type historical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - career advancement - personal goals - overcoming obstacles Key Concepts Grit Self‑efficacy Historical women in science Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel persistence productively? - What goals justify sustained effort? A Different Perspective Persistence without direction can waste effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Capacity Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-extraordinary-5222634/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Extraordinary Persistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-persistency-5222633/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-capacity-5222635/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Persistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistency-1081740/) ## Related quotes > [Firmness is great; persistency is greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Consistency in conduct and persistency, in efforts are the known keys of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/consistency-in-conduct-and-persistency-in-efforts-are-the-known-keys/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [Paralyze resistance with persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/paralyze-resistance-with-persistence/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [And you very soon find out, if you have not found it out before, that patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/and-you-very-soon-find-out-if-you-have-not-found-it-out-before-that/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Hard things take time to do. Impossible things take a little longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-cerutty/hard-things-take-time-to-do-impossible-things-take-a-little-longer/) [Percy Cerutty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-cerutty/) > [“How could we have achieved the set-goal, without endurance to the end?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/how-could-we-have-achieved-the-set-goal-without-endurance-to-the-end/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Strength shows not only the ability to persist, but also in the ability to start again. Overcoming traumatic events is hard but we always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/strength-shows-not-only-the-ability-to-persist-but-also-in-the/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Work hard. Don’t quit. Be appreciative, be thankful, be grateful, be respectful. Also, never whine, never complain. And always, for crying out loud, keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/work-hard-don-t-quit-be-appreciative-be-thankful-be-grateful-be/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [“Never give up. It might not seem easy at first but in the end, it will all be worth it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/never-give-up-it-might-not-seem-easy-at-first-but-in-the-end-it-will/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-devos/if-i-had-to-select-one-quality-one-personal-characteristic-that-i/) [Richard DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-devos/) > [If your plan isn't working, adjust your plan. Never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-martin/if-your-plan-isn-t-working-adjust-your-plan-never-give-up/) [Matt Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-martin/) > [As a means to success, determination has this advantage over talent - that it does not have to be recognized by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-means-to-success-determination-has-this-advantage-over-talent/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) ## More by Maria Mitchell > [In my younger days, when I was painted by the half-educated, loose and inaccurate ways women had, I used to say, "How much women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/in-my-younger-days-when-i-was-painted-by-the-half-educated-loose-and/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [That knowledge which is popular is not scientific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/that-knowledge-which-is-popular-is-not-scientific/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [When we are chafed and fretted by small cares, a look at the stars will show us the littleness of our own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/when-we-are-chafed-and-fretted-by-small-cares-a-look-at-the-stars/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/there-is-no-cosmetic-for-beauty-like-happiness/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [There is something of the same pleasure in noticing the hues of the stars that there is in looking at a flower garden in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/there-is-something-of-the-same-pleasure-in-noticing-the-hues-of-the/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [I made observations for three hours last night, and am almost ill to-day from fatigue; still I have worked all day, trying to reduce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-made-observations-for-three-hours-last-night-and-am-almost-ill-to/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [The world of learning is so broad, and the human soul is so limited in power! We reach forth and strain every nerve, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-world-of-learning-is-so-broad-and-the-human-soul-is-so-limited-in/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [The greatest benefit derived from the study of science is that it lifts you out of and above the littleness of daily trials. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-greatest-benefit-derived-from-the-study-of-science-is-that-it/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [“Truth or myth, it is only for me to know. Come with me into the rich texture of Bizco's kingdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/truth-or-myth-it-is-only-for-me-to-know-come-with-me-into-the-rich/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [The phrase ‘popular science’ has in itself a touch of absurdity. That knowledge which is popular is not scientific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-phrase-popular-science-has-in-itself-a-touch-of-absurdity-that/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [I had, early in life, a love for staging, but it is fast dying out. Nine hours over a rough road are enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-early-in-life-a-love-for-staging-but-it-is-fast-dying-out-nine/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [People have to learn sometimes not only how much the heart, but how much the head, can bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/people-have-to-learn-sometimes-not-only-how-much-the-heart-but-how/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [“I knew of no sadder picture in the history of science than that of the old man, Galileo, worn by a long life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-knew-of-no-sadder-picture-in-the-history-of-science-than-that-of/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned - not to see what is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/besides-learning-to-see-there-is-another-art-to-be-learned-not-to-see/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [An English village could never be mistaken for an American one: the outline against the sky differs; a thatched cottage makes a very wavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/an-english-village-could-never-be-mistaken-for-an-american-one-the/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) [Explore all 62 Maria Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,320 Capacity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maria Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraordinary-persistency/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capacity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraordinary-persistency/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/maria-mitchell-10880_capacity_i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraor_3075454.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.” — Maria Mitchell", "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": "Maria Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had only ordinary capacity but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraordinary-persistency/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraordinary-persistency/#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 } } ] } ```