People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.
Interpretation
Success is primarily the result of hard work rather than innate talent or genius.
In this quote, Alexander Hamilton emphasizes the importance of hard work as the cornerstone of achievement. He counters the misconception that success is solely a product of genius, suggesting instead that diligent effort and perseverance are the true drivers of accomplishment.
In practice
In a motivational speech to students about the importance of diligence in their studies.
When men, engaged in unjustifiable pursuits, are aware that obstructions may come from a quarter which bare apprehension of opposition from doing what they would with eagerness rush into if no such external impediments were to be feared.
The tendency of a national bank is to increase public and private credit. The former gives power to the state, for the protection of its rights and interests: and the latter facilitates and extends the operations of commerce among individuals. Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturers flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state.
It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.
The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master.
The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.
The true principle of a republic is that the people should choose whom they please to govern them. Representation is imperfect, in proportion as the current of popular favor is checked. The great source of free government, popular election, should be perfectly pure, and the most unbounded liberty allowed.
It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.
Wearing down seven number two pencils is a good day's work.
Beside every great success are the seeds of enormous failure. In every failure, there's the opportunity seeds of great success. They're not miles apart. So if they're that close together, and if you're really working, you're always gonna have that likelihood that something's not going to work.
At the beginning, you are 20 and you can just imagine... don't get me wrong, but having money. Then you realise that it's not only about you and what you are doing but that you have to give back.
Let the path be open to talent.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.