“There is no such thing as talent. There is pressure.”
- February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937
- Austrian
- Psychotherapist, Medical Doctor, Founder of Individual Psychology
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Quote
“There is no such thing as talent. There is pressure.”
Explanation
This quote challenges the commonly held belief in innate talent by proposing that external or internal pressure is the true source of human achievement. In Adlerian psychology, this reflects the idea that people are motivated less by fixed abilities and more by their responses to challenges, goals, and feelings of inferiority. Rather than accepting talent as a natural gift, Adler suggests that what we often perceive as “talent” is in fact the result of determination, need, or the psychological drive to overcome.
Adler’s theory emphasizes the individual’s striving for superiority, a concept rooted in the universal experience of inferiority. From this perspective, the pressure to prove oneself, to escape weakness or fulfill a perceived life goal, becomes a powerful driver of growth and excellence. For Adler, the environment, upbringing, and internal beliefs—not inborn gifts—are what shape a person’s development and accomplishments.
This insight continues to resonate today, particularly in educational and developmental psychology. For instance, the growth mindset popularized by Carol Dweck aligns closely with Adler’s view: success is based on effort, resilience, and response to challenge, not on predetermined talent. Whether in sports, art, or academics, this quote reminds us that what propels people forward is not what they are born with, but how they respond to the pressures and demands of life.
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