Grit Quotes

“It was this combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special… they had grit.” (Chapter 1)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: Early in Duckworth’s exploration of the question “Why do some succeed and others walk away?” she teased out two traits succeeders had in common: passion and perseverance. These traits define Duckworth’s “grit.”

“Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.” (Chapter 1)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: Although talent is privileged in many admissions and hiring processes, Duckworth defines talent as merely potential unless it is combined with effort. The insights that talent and grit are distinct traits and that talent without grit is a weak predictor of success guide Duckworth’s research.

“Greatness is doable.” (Chapter 3)

– Dan Chambliss

Analysis: Dan Chambliss’ observations of expert swimmers led him to conclude that superior performance does not simply result from talent—or as Nietzsche said, “by magic”—as people would prefer to believe, but as a result of practicing “mundane acts” over and over until they are automatic and then synthesizing them into a whole performance. In this sense, everyone is capable of developing expertise, but it requires much hard work.

“Effort factors into the calculation twice, not once.” (Chapter 3)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: Duckworth’s theory of how talent leads to achievement is illustrated in two equations:

1. talent x effort = skill
2. skill x effort = achievement

Her theory of success rests on the role of effort over talent. This puts success in the control of the individual, rather than being the result of genetics.

“You’ve got to have a philosophy.” (Chapter 4)

– Pete Carroll

Analysis: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll speaks of a life philosophy as an overarching aim that serves as a compass for life. This overarching goal is one that rarely changes but is achieved through a coordinated hierarchy of lower-level and middle-level goals that are somewhat flexible.

“Grit is more plastic than you might think.” (Chapter 5)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: Duckworth shows that like other personality traits, grit is a product of both genes and experience. However, like height or intelligence—two traits thought to be fixed but that are actually influenced by the environment—grit can grow. Duckworth’s research on grit and age suggests that grit can and does change with maturity. She goes on to show how to accelerate the growth of grit.

“Foster a passion. And then… change young minds about how that actually happens.” (Chapter 6)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: If she’s ever asked to give a commencement speech, Duckworth says she would, like most other motivational speakers, tell students to follow their passion, but then she would spend the rest of the speech explaining the reality of how that happens. A passion takes time to discover, and it means not just “falling in love” but “staying in love.”

“In my ‘grit lexicon,’… purpose means ‘the intention to contribute to the well-being of others.’” (Chapter 8)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: Purpose is one of four “psychological assets” of gritty people. Having a purpose outside of one’s own satisfaction is a powerful motivator. It contributes to the overall sense of satisfaction and well-being commonly enjoyed by people with grit.

“People of all ages carry around in their minds private theories about how the world works.” (Chapter 9)

– Angela Duckworth

Analysis: In her research on why some people persevere and others don’t, Carol Dweck found that optimists tend to have a growth mindset, whereas pessimists have a fixed mindset.

“You’re no genius.” (Chapter 13)

– Angela Duckworth’s father

Analysis: Duckworth’s father frequently told her she was no genius. While it sounds like a criticism, Duckworth does not take it as such. Her study of grit suggests that she has something more important than intelligence. Intelligence, like other natural talents, is merely a source of potential. Success and well-being, however, result from grit.