“If hard work is not another name for talent, it is the best possible substitute for it.”

“Graphology is another in a long list of quack substitutes for hard work. It is appealing to those who are impatient with such troublesome matters as research, evidence analysis, reasoning, logic, and hypothesis testing.”

“Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work…”

“Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.”

“Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent.”

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

“… talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.”

“Hard work and training. There's no secret formula. I lift heavy, work hard and aim to be the best.”

“Chubstitute (a name for a fat substitute)”

“Writing is hard work. Even when you start with the raw ingredients – a mad family, a sense of humour, talent…it’s hard work. But you do get to sit around in silk pyjamas all day.”