--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To win you must have talent and desire…" description: "\"To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first.\" — Sam Snead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg" --- # To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first. ![“To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first.” quote by Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg) > “To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first.” [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires both skill and strong desire, but desire is the driving force that initiates effort. **In simple terms:** Desire precedes talent. Key Takeaway Cultivate desire before skill. Themes motivation talent goal‑setting sports Mood motivational practical Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career planning - athletic training - personal development Key Concepts intrinsic drive mindset performance psychology Questions to Reflect On - How to balance desire and skill? - What sustains desire over time? A Different Perspective Desire alone insufficient without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-desire/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-desire-775716/) [Win Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-talent-414267/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [“To win,you must have both talent an desire- but desire first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/to-win-you-must-have-both-talent-an-desire-but-desire-first/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-don-t-have-enough-talent-to-win-on-talent-alone/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [To win once you must have talent, but to win again you must have character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/to-win-once-you-must-have-talent-but-to-win-again-you-must-have/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I think everyone talks about talent. It's really one of the most overused terms. It comes down to, do you play, and do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-think-everyone-talks-about-talent-it-s-really-one-of-the-most/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [“But failure also can occur when talent and desire are present in abundance but optimism is missing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seligman-martin/but-failure-also-can-occur-when-talent-and-desire-are-present-in/) [Seligman Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seligman-martin/) > [You don't win without talent, but your talent has to have purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-bickerstaff/you-don-t-win-without-talent-but-your-talent-has-to-have-purpose/) [J. B. Bickerstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-bickerstaff/) > [“gentlemen you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/gentlemen-you-don-t-have-enough-talent-to-win-on-talent-alone/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle, and giving 110 percent all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-zimmer/what-you-lack-in-talent-can-be-made-up-with-desire-hustle-and-giving/) [Don Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-zimmer/) > [You can win a talent show and be so famous that you can't walk down the street, but no-one knows you next Monday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-win-a-talent-show-and-be-so-famous-that-you-can-t-walk-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Great players are determined by their talent, desire and willingness to play by the code.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-singer/great-players-are-determined-by-their-talent-desire-and-willingness/) [Blair Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blair-singer/) > [I still don't know if I'm good enough or if it's a calling or a vocation or something, but the talent part is out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-isaak/i-still-don-t-know-if-i-m-good-enough-or-if-it-s-a-calling-or-a/) [Chris Isaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-isaak/) > [Can't win without talent, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/can-t-win-without-talent-you-know/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [There is one thing that can beat talent, the desire and spirit strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-takabha/there-is-one-thing-that-can-beat-talent-the-desire-and-spirit-strong/) [Rio Takabha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-takabha/) > [“I live now for my work. I live for my work. I live only for my work. One day I will do work deserving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-live-now-for-my-work-i-live-for-my-work-i-live-only-for-my-work-one/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Young players, they can't rely on their talent. They have to have the desire and the work ethic and the belief and the commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/young-players-they-can-t-rely-on-their-talent-they-have-to-have-the/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) ## More by Sam Snead > [I'd say that golf is about 75% mental. If your state of mind gets out of kilter, you're worse off than a tomcat floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-d-say-that-golf-is-about-75-mental-if-your-state-of-mind-gets-out/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [There is an old saying: if a man comes home with sand in his cuffs and cockleburs in his pants, don't ask him what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/there-is-an-old-saying-if-a-man-comes-home-with-sand-in-his-cuffs-and/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [You've just one problem. You stand too close to the ball after you've hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/you-ve-just-one-problem-you-stand-too-close-to-the-ball-after-you-ve/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [When I swing at a golf ball right, my mind is blank and my body is loose as a goose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/when-i-swing-at-a-golf-ball-right-my-mind-is-blank-and-my-body-is/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > ['You know Bobby, when I was your age I'd drive the ball right over those trees at the corner.' Feeling challenged Mr. Cole hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/you-know-bobby-when-i-was-your-age-i-d-drive-the-ball-right-over/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Just have a Coke or something and watch the boys go past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/just-have-a-coke-or-something-and-watch-the-boys-go-past/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Keep close count of your nickels and dimes, stay away from whiskey, and never concede a putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/keep-close-count-of-your-nickels-and-dimes-stay-away-from-whiskey-and/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Playing golf is like eating. It's something which has to come naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/playing-golf-is-like-eating-it-s-something-which-has-to-come-naturally/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [The three things I fear most in golf are lightning, Ben Hogan and a downhill putt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/the-three-things-i-fear-most-in-golf-are-lightning-ben-hogan-and-a/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Forget your opponents; always play against par.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/forget-your-opponents-always-play-against-par/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I looked like a monkey trying to wrestle a football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-looked-like-a-monkey-trying-to-wrestle-a-football/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I believe in destiny...what's going to be is going to be. If I'm going to win, I'm going to win...I don't give a damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-believe-in-destiny-what-s-going-to-be-is-going-to-be-if-i-m-going/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [What abandoned course is that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/what-abandoned-course-is-that/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [Nobody asked how you looked, just what you shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/nobody-asked-how-you-looked-just-what-you-shot/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on back then. We had crab grass. I remember one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-ve-been-on-some-fairways-that-are-as-good-as-the-greens-we-putted/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) [Explore all 69 Sam Snead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Snead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-but-desire-is-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-but-desire-is-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/sam-snead-9856_desire_to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-b_2867782.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To win you must have talent and desire but desire is first.” — Sam Snead", "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": "Sam Snead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To win you must have talent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-but-desire-is-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/to-win-you-must-have-talent-and-desire-but-desire-is-first/#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 } } ] } ```