Sublime

“high but not the highest intelligence, combined with the greatest degree of persistence, will achieve greater eminence than the highest degree of intelligence with somewhat less persistence.”

As a graduate student just beginning to probe the psychology of success, I was interviewing leaders in business, art, athletics, journalism, academia, medicine, and law: Who are the people at the very top of your field? What are they like? What do you think makes them special?

how talented a cadet was said nothing about their grit, and vice versa.

Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.

these bright and wonderful people know how to succeed but not how to fail.

Angela Duckworth, renowned for many things including introducing the character strength “grit” into the public discourse.

psychologist and author Angela Duckworth has done some remarkable research on the importance of what she calls “grit.”