--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being gifted intellectually is only a…" description: "\"Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the equation of success. Concentrate on the factors you have control over: persistence, self-discip..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/terry-bradshaw-9593_ability_being-gifted-intellectually-is-only-a-sm_686378.png" --- # Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the… ![“Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the equation of success. Concentrate on the factors you have control over: persistence, self-discipline, confidence. Far more failures are due to lack of will than lack of ability.” quote by Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/terry-bradshaw-9593_ability_being-gifted-intellectually-is-only-a-sm_686378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/terry-bradshaw-9593_ability_being-gifted-intellectually-is-only-a-sm_686378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/terry-bradshaw-9593_ability_being-gifted-intellectually-is-only-a-sm_686378.png) > “Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the equation of success. Concentrate on the factors you have control over: persistence, self-discipline, confidence. Far more failures are due to lack of will than lack of ability.” [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectual gifts are insufficient; success depends on controllable traits like persistence and confidence. **In simple terms:** Success needs effort, not just talent. Key Takeaway Focus on effort and self‑discipline. Themes success effort self‑discipline Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career building - academic pursuits - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology of achievement growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - Which habits will you develop? - How do you strengthen willpower? A Different Perspective Talent alone cannot guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [American football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-football/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Equations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equations/) [Factors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factors/) [Failures Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures-lack-2805980/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Gifted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifted/) [Gifted Intellectually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifted-intellectually-1960440/) [Lack Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-ability-290788/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) [Small parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-parts/) [Softball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softball/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Concentrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-concentrate-1753785/) ## Related quotes > [“If a fourteen year-old can deliver your message, it's not because he's gifted. It's because intellectually, you're a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/if-a-fourteen-year-old-can-deliver-your-message-it-s-not-because-he-s/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Here is the prime condition of success: Concentrate your energy, thought and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/here-is-the-prime-condition-of-success-concentrate-your-energy/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [All failures are so because they lack social interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/all-failures-are-so-because-they-lack-social-interest/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Lack of decisiveness has caused more failures than lack of intelligence or ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lack-of-decisiveness-has-caused-more-failures-than-lack-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Partly this has to do with the tendency for females to blame failure on a lack of ability. Males do just the opposite. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-young/partly-this-has-to-do-with-the-tendency-for-females-to-blame-failure/) [Valerie Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-young/) > [It is lack of focus,not lack of ability that holds back from the potential. If you find it difficult to deal with where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/it-is-lack-of-focus-not-lack-of-ability-that-holds-back-from-the/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Today was about our lack of ability to not produce the ability we've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/today-was-about-our-lack-of-ability-to-not-produce-the-ability-we-ve/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [“The lack of ability of those in charge to get a grip on a situation, and to take immediate, decisive action rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chalk/the-lack-of-ability-of-those-in-charge-to-get-a-grip-on-a-situation/) [Frank Chalk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chalk/) > [All the injustice in this world is a result of ones lack of ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tokyo-ghoul/all-the-injustice-in-this-world-is-a-result-of-ones-lack-of-ability/) [Tokyo Ghoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tokyo-ghoul/) > [“If they’re forced into a challenge they don’t feel prepared for, they may even engage in what psychologists call “self-handicapping”: deliberately doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mcardle/if-they-re-forced-into-a-challenge-they-don-t-feel-prepared-for-they/) [Megan McArdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mcardle/) > [Nobody have the ability to minister to men if you lack the ability to minister to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justiceogali/nobody-have-the-ability-to-minister-to-men-if-you-lack-the-ability-to/) [Justiceogali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justiceogali/) > [There is no such thing as luck, only situations combine with other situations. Who is the one creating those situations?every time someone is disadvantaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tokyo-ghoul/there-is-no-such-thing-as-luck-only-situations-combine-with-other/) [Tokyo Ghoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tokyo-ghoul/) > [“Don't waste time with people who lack the ability to pick up the pace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-waste-time-with-people-who-lack-the-ability-to-pick-up-the-pace/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Cowardice... is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend functioning of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/cowardice-is-almost-always-simply-a-lack-of-ability-to-suspend/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Terry Bradshaw > [You can't dodge them all. I got hammered plenty of times through the years. But you just get up and keep playing. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/you-can-t-dodge-them-all-i-got-hammered-plenty-of-times-through-the/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I'm just in an unfortunate business where if you ask me a question I have to answer it honestly and if I don't answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-m-just-in-an-unfortunate-business-where-if-you-ask-me-a-question-i/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [James Davison took me out to show me where Karl is living right now and where hes going to build. Karl wasnt at home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/james-davison-took-me-out-to-show-me-where-karl-is-living-right-now/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [When you're clinically depressed the serotonin in your brain is out of balance and probably always will be out of balance. So I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/when-you-re-clinically-depressed-the-serotonin-in-your-brain-is-out/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [When I played for the Steelers and I got my bell rung, I'd take smelling salts and go right back out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/when-i-played-for-the-steelers-and-i-got-my-bell-rung-i-d-take/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [What's the worst thing that can happen to a quarterback? He loses his confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/what-s-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-quarterback-he-loses-his/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I'm taking memory power boost tablets to help me every day and doing the puzzles to help me stay focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-m-taking-memory-power-boost-tablets-to-help-me-every-day-and-doing/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [There really has been only one thing in my life that has made me feel complete, and that is the game of football. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/there-really-has-been-only-one-thing-in-my-life-that-has-made-me-feel/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [When I was labeled stupid, that scarred me forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/when-i-was-labeled-stupid-that-scarred-me-forever/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I had learned so much about marriage from Missy that I only had to get divorced two more times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-had-learned-so-much-about-marriage-from-missy-that-i-only-had-to/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I'm on national TV in front of millions and I hate making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-m-on-national-tv-in-front-of-millions-and-i-hate-making-mistakes/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [Any team can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/any-team-can-win/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [I don't want to hurt anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-anybody/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [As a player, it says everything about you if you made the Hall of Fame. But, then again, boy... there's something about winning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/as-a-player-it-says-everything-about-you-if-you-made-the-hall-of-fame/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [You've got to stand up and do your own battles. My daddy taught me that a long time ago, that you fight your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/you-ve-got-to-stand-up-and-do-your-own-battles-my-daddy-taught-me/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) [Explore all 71 Terry Bradshaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the equation of success. 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