--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've known ambitious people with no…" description: "\"I've known ambitious people with no aptitude for the thing they did. Most of whom, rather terrifyingly, tended to succeed.\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/neil-gaiman-29_ambition_i-ve-known-ambitious-people-with-no-apti_3115556.jpg" --- # I've known ambitious people with no aptitude for the thing… ![“I've known ambitious people with no aptitude for the thing they did. Most of whom, rather terrifyingly, tended to succeed.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/neil-gaiman-29_ambition_i-ve-known-ambitious-people-with-no-apti_3115556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/neil-gaiman-29_ambition_i-ve-known-ambitious-people-with-no-apti_3115556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/neil-gaiman-29_ambition_i-ve-known-ambitious-people-with-no-apti_3115556.jpg) > “I've known ambitious people with no aptitude for the thing they did. Most of whom, rather terrifyingly, tended to succeed.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success can come to those lacking natural talent if they are driven and work hard. **In simple terms:** Hard work can outweigh lack of talent. Key Takeaway Cultivate drive and perseverance. Themes ambition success talent effort Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - creative projects - sports competition - entrepreneurship Key Concepts growth mindset self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely more on talent or effort? - How can you develop perseverance? A Different Perspective Talent alone does not guarantee success; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Aptitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aptitude/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Which people show you an attitude, they people have not an aptitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhiren-prajapati/which-people-show-you-an-attitude-they-people-have-not-an-aptitude/) [Dhiren Prajapati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhiren-prajapati/) > [I really think some people have an aptitude for being parents while others don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reham-khan/i-really-think-some-people-have-an-aptitude-for-being-parents-while/) [Reham Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reham-khan/) > [“Talented people hit targets no one else can hit. Ambitious people aim to hit targets no one else can see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addoo-s-mukhtar/talented-people-hit-targets-no-one-else-can-hit-ambitious-people-aim/) Addoo S. Mukhtar > [There is always something moving, brewing. There are ambitious people everywhere. Wicked people. The only thing to do is to deal with them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/there-is-always-something-moving-brewing-there-are-ambitious-people/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [I've never been pushy. People have said I should have been, more, but I'm not sure. I've watched hugely ambitious people: the minute they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-ve-never-been-pushy-people-have-said-i-should-have-been-more-but-i/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I was a reader. I loved reading. Reading things gave me pleasure. I was very good at most subjects in school, not because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-was-a-reader-i-loved-reading-reading-things-gave-me-pleasure-i-was/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Look, people need to conform the external reality they face daily with this subjective feeling they likewise experience constantly. To do this they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-de-la-pava/look-people-need-to-conform-the-external-reality-they-face-daily-with/) [Sergio De La Pava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-de-la-pava/) > [It's not fair to look at me and my husband as a couple when it comes to work. In the lab we are colleagues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-britt-moser/it-s-not-fair-to-look-at-me-and-my-husband-as-a-couple-when-it-comes/) [May-Britt Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-britt-moser/) > [“ambitious people awe some and terrify others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vali/ambitious-people-awe-some-and-terrify-others/) [Ali Vali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vali/) > [I am confirmed in my division of human energies. Ambitious people climb, but faithful people build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/i-am-confirmed-in-my-division-of-human-energies-ambitious-people/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [I find talented, driven, boundlessly ambitious people and help them solve problems that will hopefully improve the lives of millions. Sometimes this means investing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-find-talented-driven-boundlessly-ambitious-people-and-help-them/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [“However able they may be, ambitious people won’t stay in outfits which practice nepotism. This is one mistake I did not make; my son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/however-able-they-may-be-ambitious-people-won-t-stay-in-outfits-which/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [“But haven't all ambitious people something of the monstrous about them? You, sir, for instance, if you will forgive me, are a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/but-haven-t-all-ambitious-people-something-of-the-monstrous-about/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [ \[Kay\] was not at all an unpleasant person really, but clever, quick, proud, passionate and ambitious. He was one of those people who would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kay-was-not-at-all-an-unpleasant-person-really-but-clever-quick-proud/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The girls everyone considers the "prettiest" are not always the most interesting or ambitious people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-renn/the-girls-everyone-considers-the-prettiest-are-not-always-the-most/) [Crystal Renn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-renn/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've known ambitious people with no aptitude for the thing they did. 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