[melling]

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On, has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race."

Calvin Coolidge

[tikhonj]

To me, it seems that persistence alone isn't enough either; I'm sure there are plenty of determined but ultimately unsuccessful people. Persistence needs to be coupled with something else--be it "talent" or "genius" or just plain creativity--in order to be successful.

In my experience, a smart person can do well without much work; a hard worker can do well without being particularly smart; but only a combination of the two, and other qualities besides, leads to anything truly interesting.