--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great talents, by the rust of long…" description: "\"Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png" --- # Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic… ![“Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png) > “Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Untended talents deteriorate, losing vigor and shrinking back to a diminished state. **In simple terms:** Neglected skills become weak and smaller. Key Takeaway Talent needs continual use to stay strong. Themes talent neglect decline growth Mood cautionary reflective Type motivational advice When to use this quote - musicians practicing - athletes training - software developers coding Key Concepts skill decay motivation Practical Applications - schedule regular practice sessions - set incremental challenges to keep abilities sharp Questions to Reflect On - What habits prevent talent rust? - Can talent revive after long neglect? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-talent/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Lethargic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lethargic/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [I include lots of nutrients like Omega 3 fish oils in my diet, which work wonders for my skin, hair and nails. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/i-include-lots-of-nutrients-like-omega-3-fish-oils-in-my-diet-which/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-say-that-the-great-sprawling/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You lethargic, waiting upon me, waiting for the fire and I attendant upon you, shaken by your beauty Shaken by your beauty Shaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/you-lethargic-waiting-upon-me-waiting-for-the-fire-and-i-attendant/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [The vigorous man industriously striving for the improvement of his condition acts neither more nor less than the lethargic man who sluggishly takes things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-vigorous-man-industriously-striving-for-the-improvement-of-his/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [In Nigeria, there is energy, whether it is Lagos, which is sheer anarchy, but it is not lethargic. It is strong, even aggressive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-nigeria-there-is-energy-whether-it-is-lagos-which-is-sheer-anarchy/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I'm kind of lethargic in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-m-kind-of-lethargic-in-real-life/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [The mornings themselves were becoming bad now as I wandered about lethargic, following my synthetic sleep, but afternoons were still the worst, beginning at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/the-mornings-themselves-were-becoming-bad-now-as-i-wandered-about/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [Nothing should be overlooked in fighting for better education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-wilkins/nothing-should-be-overlooked-in-fighting-for-better-education/) [Roy Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-wilkins/) > [“man was born to live either in a state of distracting inquietude or of lethargic disgust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/man-was-born-to-live-either-in-a-state-of-distracting-inquietude-or/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The people are not always well-informed, but is better that they have misconceptions that make them restless than that they be lethargic-for lethargy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-are-not-always-well-informed-but-is-better-that-they-have/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within. This is my calling, to open doors of truth and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/my-appointed-work-is-to-awaken-the-divine-nature-that-is-within-this/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“Don't wait to pursue your future and end up letting society chew you up and spit you out to the rest of the lethargic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-greathouse/don-t-wait-to-pursue-your-future-and-end-up-letting-society-chew-you/) Brittany Greathouse > [The Germans, in the age of Tacitus, were unacquainted with the use of letters; and the use of letters is the principal circumstance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-germans-in-the-age-of-tacitus-were-unacquainted-with-the-use-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) Kuki Gallmann > [What I learned about them, I liked. But it also seemed that the liberal line was not entirely correct, for it was obvious that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/what-i-learned-about-them-i-liked-but-it-also-seemed-that-the-liberal/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Great talent quotes > [At the level at which I work with people, their great talent is paired with great insecurity. Self-doubt is literally the twin of self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ivey-long/at-the-level-at-which-i-work-with-people-their-great-talent-is-paired/) William Ivey Long > [To recognize great talent, we must encourage dreamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-west/to-recognize-great-talent-we-must-encourage-dreamers/) Benjamin West > [You can be talented, but having great talent isn't enough. You have to work every day or someone will pass you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/you-can-be-talented-but-having-great-talent-isn-t-enough-you-have-to/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [Great talent has always a little madness mixed up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/great-talent-has-always-a-little-madness-mixed-up-with-it/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [I'm a planner, and most networks don't plan. Bravo doesn't plan. Bravo is lucky in a lot of ways - they've got a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/i-m-a-planner-and-most-networks-don-t-plan-bravo-doesn-t-plan-bravo/) [Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/) > [I believe that there are many talented Filipinos and their talent is great and globally competitive, just waiting to be tapped. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/i-believe-that-there-are-many-talented-filipinos-and-their-talent-is/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [I feel that I have been very fortunate and had the opportunity to play some wonderful roles and movies and worked with some great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-feel-that-i-have-been-very-fortunate-and-had-the-opportunity-to/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [The Old Vic has always been first and foremost an actors' theatre, a home for great talent and memorable performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-old-vic-has-always-been-first-and-foremost-an-actors-theatre-a/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I do not think I'm a great talent. I think I'm a medium talent, but I think I understand the business and enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-do-not-think-i-m-a-great-talent-i-think-i-m-a-medium-talent-but-i/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [I always wish to find great virtues where there are great talents, and to love what I admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-always-wish-to-find-great-virtues-where-there-are-great-talents-and/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I didn't want to get into any Amazon Prime Video show just like that. I was waiting for a big series to come where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-kabi/i-didn-t-want-to-get-into-any-amazon-prime-video-show-just-like-that/) [Neeraj Kabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-kabi/) > [Working in the arts, you see people who come from terrible circumstances and who, for whatever reason, have incredible talent. But of course, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/working-in-the-arts-you-see-people-who-come-from-terrible/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-want-to-tell-you-how-proud-i-am-to-be-the-president-of-a-nation/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“So, what does all this tell us? First, that the seed of greatness exists in every human being. Whether it sprouts or not is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/so-what-does-all-this-tell-us-first-that-the-seed-of-greatness-exists/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [America's great talent, I think, is to generate desires that would never have occurred, natively,... and to make those desires so painfully real that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/america-s-great-talent-i-think-is-to-generate-desires-that-would/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) [Browse all 106 Great talent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-talent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great talent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/ovid-276_great-talent_great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse_98107.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Great talents, by the rust of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/#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 } } ] } ```