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The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in this business. You've got to keep on working that talent. Someday I'll reach for it and it won't be there.
Irving Berlin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Success requires continuous effort and dedication beyond initial talent.

In this quote, Irving Berlin emphasizes that achieving success is not a one-time event but rather an ongoing process that demands consistent hard work and cultivation of one's abilities. He warns that merely having talent is insufficient; one must continue to apply themselves to ensure that success endures, or they risk losing it entirely.

Themes

SuccessTalentHard WorkDedicationEffort

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech, you might quote this to underscore the importance of hard work.

More from Irving Berlin

Things that really matter are the things that gold can't buy, so let's have another cup o' coffee and let's have another piece o' pie.
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You're not sick you're just in love.
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The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.
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Heaven... I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
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I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,_x000D_ _x000D_ Just like the ones I used to know,_x000D_ _x000D_ Where the tree tops glisten_x000D_ _x000D_ And children listen_x000D_ _x000D_ To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
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God bless America, land that I love,_x000D_ _x000D_ Stand beside her, and guide her,_x000D_ _x000D_ Through the night, with the light from above,_x000D_ _x000D_ From the mountains, to the prairies_x000D_ _x000D_ To the oceans, white with foam_x000D_ _x000D_ God bless America, my home sweet home,_x000D_ _x000D_ God bless America! My Home Sweet Home!
Irving BerlinRead

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