--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought talent was everything…" description: "\"“I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was always money. Or even class. Or if not class exactly, connections.”\" — Meg Wolitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg" --- # I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was… ![“I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was always money. Or even class. Or if not class exactly, connections.” quote by Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg) > ““I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was always money. Or even class. Or if not class exactly, connections.”” [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent alone is insufficient; money, class, and connections often determine success. **In simple terms:** Talent isn’t enough; money, class, connections matter. Key Takeaway Cultivate networks and resources alongside skill. Themes talent social class class networking Mood analytical motivational Type career social When to use this quote - career advancement - industry navigation - personal development Key Concepts Social capital economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to build valuable connections? - How does class affect opportunity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on connections can undermine meritocracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-exactly-5181996/) [Maybe Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-money-323544/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-maybe-1846214/) [Thought Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-talent-2120957/) ## Related quotes > [“If we all downed tools and joined hands for ten minutes and stopped believing in money, then money would no longer exist. We never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/if-we-all-downed-tools-and-joined-hands-for-ten-minutes-and-stopped/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I don't understand how most pop stars live this life being told what to do, what to wear, all the time. Maybe money does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/i-don-t-understand-how-most-pop-stars-live-this-life-being-told-what/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [I thought I saw him for what he was-or what I thought he was. And he was talented, no doubt about that. But, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-wray/i-thought-i-saw-him-for-what-he-was-or-what-i-thought-he-was-and-he/) [Fay Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-wray/) > [I can envision a small cottage somewhere, with a lot of writing paper, and a dog, and a fireplace and maybe enough money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lt-richard-van-de-geer/i-can-envision-a-small-cottage-somewhere-with-a-lot-of-writing-paper/) [Lt Richard Van De Geer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lt-richard-van-de-geer/) > [Talent is full of thoughts, Genius is thought. Talent is a cistern, Genius a fountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/talent-is-full-of-thoughts-genius-is-thought-talent-is-a-cistern/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Maybe money is unreal for most of us, easier to give away than things we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/maybe-money-is-unreal-for-most-of-us-easier-to-give-away-than-things/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [“Maybe money couldn’t buy happiness, but it could get you a table that looked like the back end of a deep-sea fishing vessel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/maybe-money-couldn-t-buy-happiness-but-it-could-get-you-a-table-that/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I thought I had a talent for alienating people, but I have no idea what it is that doesn't go over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/i-thought-i-had-a-talent-for-alienating-people-but-i-have-no-idea/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [The manuals we got from IBM would show examples of programs and I knew I could do a heck of a lot better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-manuals-we-got-from-ibm-would-show-examples-of-programs-and-i/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [I thought my talent would transcend my outspokenness. I was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/i-thought-my-talent-would-transcend-my-outspokenness-i-was-wrong/) [Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/) > [The worst thing in this business is to be thought of as a no-talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stiller/the-worst-thing-in-this-business-is-to-be-thought-of-as-a-no-talent/) [Jerry Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stiller/) > [Maybe money can't buy love - but it can get you practically everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/maybe-money-can-t-buy-love-but-it-can-get-you-practically-everything/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [With success it's like 60% talent, maybe 20% luck and then 20% being at the right place at the right time. There are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-troxler/with-success-it-s-like-60-talent-maybe-20-luck-and-then-20-being-at/) [Seth Troxler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-troxler/) > [“You see? This is what's wrong with the world. A young lady with bleached hair, an estuarine accent and unfeasible breasts can outsell a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fowler/you-see-this-is-what-s-wrong-with-the-world-a-young-lady-with/) [Christopher Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fowler/) > [Ultimately I'll probably end up going out with an actress again. But an architect would be cool. They need to do something creative. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/ultimately-i-ll-probably-end-up-going-out-with-an-actress-again-but/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) ## More by Meg Wolitzer > [New teachers were just a part of life, for a few days after one arrived, squawks of interest were emitted from various corners, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/new-teachers-were-just-a-part-of-life-for-a-few-days-after-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“It was exhausting being a schizophrenic, which he was still convinced he was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/it-was-exhausting-being-a-schizophrenic-which-he-was-still-convinced/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I always thought it was the saddest and most devastating ending. How you could have these enormous dreams that never get met. How without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-it-was-the-saddest-and-most-devastating-ending-how/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [But clearly life took people and shook them around until finally they were unrecognizable even to those who had once known them well. Still,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/but-clearly-life-took-people-and-shook-them-around-until-finally-they/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I don't write autobiographically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-don-t-write-autobiographically/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“...the Iraq war was the Ishtar of wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-iraq-war-was-the-ishtar-of-wars/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-in-which-you-might-not-know/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Another spell had been thrust upon her so long ago...She hadn't been able to see it but it was real. Otherwise why would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/another-spell-had-been-thrust-upon-her-so-long-ago-she-hadn-t-been/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Even if you yourself were unhappy and anxious, whenever you glimpsed happiness in your child, you suddenly became happy too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/even-if-you-yourself-were-unhappy-and-anxious-whenever-you-glimpsed/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“The world of law was filled with the fallen, but theater wasn't. No one ever "fell back" onto theater. You had to really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-world-of-law-was-filled-with-the-fallen-but-theater-wasn-t-no-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Crema Seamans," Ethan repeated thoughtfully. "It's like a soup made from ... various semens. A medley of semens. It's a flavour of Campbell's soup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/crema-seamans-ethan-repeated-thoughtfully-it-s-like-a-soup-made-from/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I've always been drawn to writing for young readers. The books that I read growing up remain in my mind very strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-writing-for-young-readers-the-books-that-i/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“No one ever told you that in moment of crisis, family was allowed to trump friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/no-one-ever-told-you-that-in-moment-of-crisis-family-was-allowed-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [You had only one chance for a signature in life, but most people left no impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/you-had-only-one-chance-for-a-signature-in-life-but-most-people-left/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Part of the beauty of love was that you didn't need to explain it to anyone else. You could refuse to explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/part-of-the-beauty-of-love-was-that-you-didn-t-need-to-explain-it-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) [Explore all 178 Meg Wolitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was always money. Or even class. Or if not class exactly, connections.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meg Wolitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-but-maybe-it-was-always-money/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-but-maybe-it-was-always-money/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/meg-wolitzer-2224_class_i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-b_3068977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always thought talent was everything, but maybe it was always money. Or even class. Or if not class…” — Meg Wolitzer", "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": "Meg Wolitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I always thought talent was everything,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-but-maybe-it-was-always-money/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-talent-was-everything-but-maybe-it-was-always-money/#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 } } ] } ```