A Key To Success

by Robert Wilkinson

A long time ago, I read a piece that began "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence." It always stuck with me as one of the elements of worldly success, and while evident on its face, it also keeps proving out over decades of observation.

Since "perseverance furthers," as our old friend the I Ching says, I went on a quest to find the entirety of the original quote. After researching a little, I found the original as I remember it from years ago.

Believe it or not, it was originally uttered by no other than President "Silent" Calvin Coolidge, who it seems left a final sentence that is usually omitted from the quote.

Today I offer it for your consideration and hopefully, meditation. Here is a gem of wisdom:

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

And of course, while none of those alone can guarantee success, combining any or all of those qualities must assuredly leads to self realization and a level of fulfillment. The trick is to combine talent, specialized gifts, and what we've learned with persistence and determination. What's not to like?

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[SB]

Excellent one! Thank you.

[Susan]

Very good timing. Thanks.

[Pepper]

Yes, a golden bit to mediate upon and put into practice. Thank you!

[Pleiades]

how very Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn in Virgo of you, Robert! With Ascendant at 0 degrees Capricorn, I love that message.

[Henry]

A. "Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent".

B. "Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb".

Sad sentences.

Really I understand but I don't love this kind of world.

Obviously, people without talent will effort more and more on the material plane to get a compensation of the outern ones, but as I embody somehow the Leo-Cancer principle, please let us be talent and fly with the Moon sometimes he he he...-just joking-

I think when Humanity will learn to search for talent in a child through astrology and other "misguided" (he he) sciences, all talents will be untied, all knowledge will be freed and unlimited since birth.

Persistance is survival, but how many potencial stars are discarded as corpses in the way due to lack of understanding, recognition, true education, etc. (and overall true self-knowledge).

Just a fast "contra" for Capricornian approaches, he he. Thanks for them anyway.

Henry.

[Valerie]

Yes, a perfect example is Milton Hershey, who failed in the candy making business numerous times until he finally succeeded after the age of forty, and donated huge sums to further the education of orphan boys (having no children of his own.) I was always impressed by that.

Namaste everyone. :)

And by the way, success (wealth, if you will) is not only measured in dollars, but also in the love of friends and family in your life. :)

[Felita]

Hi Robert, a very Aries driven quote,yet to me what exactly is rewatd..an outer recognition?..Persistance and endurance to follow the higher mind to our own individual paths, humanity must share enough to the equanamity of own soul growth and that of the greater soul, how this displays to the outer laws and stigma of society does not qualify the persistance as stated by obvious reward, miniscule determination is directional enough to substain and is instinctive at I'ts own level.
Sometimes we have to be determined to stand still, persisting only in our evolution of existing in that time, waiting..It could be projected as unsuccessful, per se, unrewarded..Although as a quality determination is good, this qoute seems like westernised formality to me.

Anyway, my response..I think it was the opening of above quote," Nothing in the world..." alas! I believe it to be not so,Love rules rational application of mind to drive humanities spirit, an opinion..:)

Aum Shanti Felita

[Aditya]

Very "Napoleon Hill" and what I follow. Thank you Robert...

Love

[Robert]

Hi all - I thought many of you would like this one!

Hi Henry - I believe that in a world that values conformity and "going along to get along," talent and genius barely get recognized, unless it rocks an establishment boat in which case it's "off with their heads." I'm not sure people without talent effort more, since I've known too many slackers of every stripe who put their lives on autopilot. If our world valued originality, then we'd have a much healthier world, psychologically and materially, since all would be encouraged to find their gifts and make them into skills useful in the world. But how many recognize skills and gifts of another, much less encourage them to be developed?

Hi Valerie - Yes! Edison has another quote: "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." Success can be truly measured by almost any standard EXCEPT money. I've known quite a few wealthy losers but quite a few successful humans, regardless of their money.

Hi Felita - Reward is what comes when a potential is fulfilled. And of course, some rewards are more satisfactory than others. The reward of knowing yourself to be an Eternal perfecting outer behaviors here on Earth is a great reward for efforts at self-realization that begin in ignorance and end up in a degree of enlightenment. Persistence will usually yield some reward, but the trick is to persist in seeking in the right way AND the right environment. No point seeking trout in a bass pond, and no point in trying to teach a pig to sing. It'll just frustrate you and annoy the pig.;-) That's why, yes, sometimes we must persist in non-action if action would create more problems than rewards. Try viewing it from the lens of "the reward of patience is patience." And one must truly love whatever one is determined to be or do, or it wouldn't be persisted in. The love of whatever is behind all forms of determination and persistence.

Hi Aditya - I'm sure preznit Cal Cool had read Napoleon Hill, since Hill was the preeminent pop philosopher of his era, in terms of the philosophy of success being a mental state.