--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For if the talent or individuality is…" description: "\"For if the talent or individuality is there, it should be expressed. If it doesn't find its way out into the air, it can be turned inward and gnaw like..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/shirley-maclaine-1977_air_for-if-the-talent-or-individuality-is-th_2445892.jpg" --- # For if the talent or individuality is there, it should be… ![“For if the talent or individuality is there, it should be expressed. If it doesn't find its way out into the air, it can be turned inward and gnaw like the fox at the Spartan boy's belly.” quote by Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/shirley-maclaine-1977_air_for-if-the-talent-or-individuality-is-th_2445892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/shirley-maclaine-1977_air_for-if-the-talent-or-individuality-is-th_2445892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/shirley-maclaine-1977_air_for-if-the-talent-or-individuality-is-th_2445892.jpg) > “For if the talent or individuality is there, it should be expressed. If it doesn't find its way out into the air, it can be turned inward and gnaw like the fox at the Spartan boy's belly.” [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When innate talent is suppressed, it can become a source of inner torment. **In simple terms:** Unexpressed talent harms the self. Key Takeaway Express your gifts early. Themes self‑expression inner conflict creativity Mood reflective concerned Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career choices - artistic pursuits - personal development - mental health Key Concepts psychology self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture hidden talents? - What outlets can you create for self‑expression? A Different Perspective If external outlets are unavailable, internal pressure may cause distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Fox Spartan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fox-spartan-528585/) [Foxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Individuality Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality-expressed-528584/) [Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Spartan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spartan/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-individuality-528583/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It's through our unique flaws that our individuality can be expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trumble/it-s-through-our-unique-flaws-that-our-individuality-can-be-expressed/) [David Trumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trumble/) > [Earth! render back from out thy breast A remnant of our Spartan dead! Of the three hundred grant but three, To make a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/earth-render-back-from-out-thy-breast-a-remnant-of-our-spartan-dead/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [At the age of about eight years, if he is a boy, she turns him over to his father for more Spartan training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eastman/at-the-age-of-about-eight-years-if-he-is-a-boy-she-turns-him-over-to/) [Charles Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eastman/) > [From age eleven to age sixteen I lived a spartan life without the usual adolescent uncertainty. I wanted to be the best swimmer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-nyad/from-age-eleven-to-age-sixteen-i-lived-a-spartan-life-without-the/) [Diana Nyad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-nyad/) > [“If he was not exactly a Spartan, he was, you might say, spartanatical. Things happened to you; they were good,or they were bad -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-coppard/if-he-was-not-exactly-a-spartan-he-was-you-might-say-spartanatical/) [A.E. Coppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-coppard/) > [“Because we are the only women who are mothers of men." Gorgo: when asked by a woman from Attica why Spartan women were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gorgos/because-we-are-the-only-women-who-are-mothers-of-men-gorgo-when-asked/) [Gorgos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gorgos/) > [“Admiral Spartan thinks that the object must be exposed and penetrated with all possible speed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-child/admiral-spartan-thinks-that-the-object-must-be-exposed-and-penetrated/) [Lincoln Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-child/) > [The Spartans were a paradoxical people. They were the biggest slave owners in Greece. But at the same time, Spartan women had an unusual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/the-spartans-were-a-paradoxical-people-they-were-the-biggest-slave/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [“Is she worth it though?" he asked and she shrugged. "That's up to you to decide. Either way, I support you, love you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-aleo/is-she-worth-it-though-he-asked-and-she-shrugged-that-s-up-to-you-to/) [Toni Aleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-aleo/) > [I have been following what is now called the 'Spartan Way' long before it became popular!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/i-have-been-following-what-is-now-called-the-spartan-way-long-before/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [It's the quintessential Greek sport: harmonious, competitive, agonizing, nautical, and above all, intelligent. It combines Odysseus's brains and brawn and love of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/it-s-the-quintessential-greek-sport-harmonious-competitive-agonizing/) [Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/) > [“Yeah, you're probably right,' I said, forcing myself to smile at him. Logan grinned back at me. 'Of course, I'm right. I'm always right.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep-killer-frost/yeah-you-re-probably-right-i-said-forcing-myself-to-smile-at-him/) [Jennifer Estep Killer Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep-killer-frost/) > [I'm a Spartan, so we don't forget that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sakkari/i-m-a-spartan-so-we-don-t-forget-that/) [Maria Sakkari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sakkari/) > [The Spartan, smiting and spurning the wretched Helot, moves our disgust. But the same Spartan, calmly dressing his hair, and uttering his concise jests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-spartan-smiting-and-spurning-the-wretched-helot-moves-our-disgust/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [“He was built like a Spartan (the Gerard Butler kind, nom). I liked that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrianne-brooks/he-was-built-like-a-spartan-the-gerard-butler-kind-nom-i-liked-that/) [Adrianne Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrianne-brooks/) ## More by Shirley MacLaine > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I'm too direct and too unsparingly impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-m-too-direct-and-too-unsparingly-impatient/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [The uninvestigated life is not worth living. I don't want to live that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/the-uninvestigated-life-is-not-worth-living-i-don-t-want-to-live-that/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [There's no journey worth taking except the journey through one's self. That's the most important journey you take. I found that out as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/there-s-no-journey-worth-taking-except-the-journey-through-one-s-self/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [... when things get rough, a breakthrough is just on the other side of the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/when-things-get-rough-a-breakthrough-is-just-on-the-other-side-of-the/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I had a video made of my recent knee operation. The doctor said it was the best movie I ever starred in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-had-a-video-made-of-my-recent-knee-operation-the-doctor-said-it-was/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Fear is concealed in smiles and flashing teeth. 'Please say you still love me,' the kings and queens are really saying. And, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/fear-is-concealed-in-smiles-and-flashing-teeth-please-say-you-still/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Some people think I look like a sweet potato, I consider myself a spud with a heart of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/some-people-think-i-look-like-a-sweet-potato-i-consider-myself-a-spud/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Crystals are amplifying minerals. You have a crystal in a radio - it amplifies the sound waves. You have a crystal in a television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/crystals-are-amplifying-minerals-you-have-a-crystal-in-a-radio-it/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [“It's useless to hold a person to anything he says wile he's in love, drunk, or running for office.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/it-s-useless-to-hold-a-person-to-anything-he-says-wile-he-s-in-love/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I'd like to introduce someone who has just come into my life. I've admired him for 35 years. He's someone who represents integrity, honesty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-d-like-to-introduce-someone-who-has-just-come-into-my-life-i-ve/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/the-more-i-traveled-the-more-i-realized-that-fear-makes-strangers-of/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [If we can genuinely honor our mother and father we are not only at peace with ourselves but we can then give birth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/if-we-can-genuinely-honor-our-mother-and-father-we-are-not-only-at/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I do miss the stage. There's nothing like it, nothing. When I did my one-woman show and played the Palace and played the Gershwin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-do-miss-the-stage-there-s-nothing-like-it-nothing-when-i-did-my-one/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [If anything interferes with my inner peace, I will walk away. Arguments with family members. All that stuff. None of it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/if-anything-interferes-with-my-inner-peace-i-will-walk-away-arguments/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) [Explore all 193 Shirley MacLaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For if the talent or individuality is there, it should be expressed. 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