I believe that every one of us has a gift. And I believe that mine is the ability to take the complex and make it simple.

I get impatient with people working on a film that have their head in their hands like it’s the most complicated thing in the world.

Talent is something that comes from within; it has nothing to do with age.

A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.

When I was in high school, there were these British blues-rock-type bands with really good guitar players that would jam on one song for half an hour. And as much as I was amazed by some of those guitar players, seeing them prompted me to make a note that that’s not something I could do.

Cause I’m a musician, I’m not really good at posing and being a model, like, modeling.

I have no definite talent or trade, and how I stay alive is largely a matter of magic.

Does anybody really think that they didn’t get what they had because they didn’t have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?

Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.

Genius at first is little more than a great capacity for receiving discipline.

There are people in the world who have skills and strength and talent that I will never have. Never. These notions that you can ‚be whatever you want to be as long as you want it bad enough‘ are not true. They are fairy tales.

I’m not interested in possible complexities. I regard song structure as a graph paper.

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex and vital.

The barriers are not erected which can say to aspiring talents and industry, ‚Thus far and no farther.‘

Basically, I’m one of the greatest producers ever. And I’m also one of the greatest DJs ever. And I’m also one of the best executives ever.

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.

I’m not going to lie; listen, I’m nice at basketball.

Humanity is still advancing; and it will probably continue to advance for hundreds of thousands of years more, always on condition that we know how to keep the same line of advance as our ancestors towards ever greater consciousness and complexity.

I know a lot of people who wouldn’t be comfortable with everything that comes with being in a band as big as Nirvana. The thing that I don’t understand is not appreciating that simple gift of being able to play music.

Before ever meeting Priyanka Chopra, I had heard her name coming out of Bollywood and was impressed: she was beautiful, talented, had made nearly 50 movies, earned multiple awards – a massive star.

Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs.

Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat.

Money and investing can be complex, confusing, and often boring subjects.

The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear – fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants above everything else is safety.

I think any activity you have your kids in, you’re all trying to live vicariously through them. And you’re jealous of the kid that’s naturally more talented or has the facility, the body, the genes, or the God-given talent. People get jealous of that.

When we recognise the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born.

I understand that being able to appeal to the public and having an amazing sense of humour is not something that comes easy. It’s definitely a gift and for which I’m thankful.

There is something that is much more scarce, something finer far, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.

From the beginning of my rap career, since I was seen and heard, I always had a store.

People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never.

We live in a bewildering world.

In order to acquire a growing and lasting respect in society, it is a good thing, if you possess great talent, to give, early in your youth, a very hard kick to the right shin of the society that you love. After that, be a snob.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

A punishment to some, to some a gift, and to many a favor.

In an individual sport, yes, you have to win titles. Baseball’s different. But basketball, hockey? One person can control the tempo of a game, can completely alter the momentum of a series. There’s a lot of great individual talent.

I’m much more comfortable and confident running out on the field in front of 70,000 people instead of standing in front of a camera trying to say some lines. The people who do that as a profession are very talented because it’s certainly not easy.

Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely; for science is but one.

I’m born with a pencil in my hand. I did lots of sketching.

Women are considered deep – why? Because one can never discover any bottom to them. Women are not even shallow.

Mother Earth is very talented. She has produced Buddhas, bodhisattvas, great beings.

If you are lucky enough to find something that you love, and you have a shot at being good at it, don’t stop, don’t put it down.

I performed in a bowling alley before while people were still bowling. Cut the check, and I will perform anywhere.

It’s a very confusing era that we’re in.

A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.

I’ve never met a genius. A genius to me is someone who does well at something he hates. Anybody can do well at something he loves – it’s just a question of finding the subject.

I guess you could say it’s always been my destiny to be a performer.

Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.

Many are they who have a taste and love for drawing, but no talent; and this will be discernible in boys who are not diligent and never finish their drawings with shading.

The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.

God, our Creator, has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential strength and ability. Prayer helps us tap and develop these powers.

Gold was a gift to Jesus. If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me!

As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher’s mound. It was as if I’d been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.

Issues are never simple. One thing I’m proud of is that very rarely will you hear me simplify the issues.

Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent.

I just feel that ‚The Color Purple,‘ which was my 10th book, was a true gift from my ancestors.

Ability is nothing without opportunity.

My biggest criticism is how can people be so easily satisfied? Even people with talent.

Who’s to say what’s a good voice and not a good voice?

Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite.

You know, God gave me a gift to do other things besides play the game of basketball.