95 Dynamic Anglea Duckworth Quotes (Unleash Your Grit)

Explore the wisdom of Angela Duckworth through these inspirational quotes on grit and perseverance.

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Best Quotes from Angela Duckworth

Consistency of effort over the long run is everything. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Consistency of effort over the long run is everything. Angela Duckworth

In very gritty people, most mid level and low level goals are, in some way or another, related to that ultimate goal. In contrast, a lack of grit can come from having lessPin

In very gritty people, most mid-level and low-level goals are, in some way or another, related to that ultimate goal. In contrast, a lack of grit can come from having less coherent goal structures. Angela Duckworth

When you keep searching for ways to change your situation for the better you stand a chance of finding them. When you stop searching assuming they cant be found you guarantee they won.Pin

When you keep searching for ways to change your situation for the better, you stand a chance of finding them. When you stop searching, assuming they can’t be found, you guarantee they won. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Really what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.Pin

Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them. Angela Duckworth

Not just more time on task but also better time on task. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Not just more time on task, but also better time on task. Angela Duckworth

Being gritty doesn't mean not showing pain or pretending everything is O.K. In fact, when you look at healthy and successful and giving people, they are extraordinarily metaPin

Being gritty doesn’t mean not showing pain or pretending everything is O.K. In fact, when you look at healthy and successful and giving people, they are extraordinarily meta-cognitive. They’re able to say things like, ‘Dude, I totally lost my temper this morning.’ That ability to reflect on yourself is signature to grit. Angela Duckworth

Gritty people train at the edge of their comfort zone. They zero in on one narrow aspect of their performance and set a stretch goal to improve it. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Gritty people train at the edge of their comfort zone. They zero in on one narrow aspect of their performance and set a stretch goal to improve it. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Failure is not a permanent condition.Pin

Failure is not a permanent condition. Angela Duckworth

How you see your work is more important than your job title. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

How you see your work is more important than your job title. Anglea Duckworth

There are no shortcuts to true excellence.Pin

There are no shortcuts to true excellence. Angela Duckworth

Grittier students are more likely to earn their diplomas; grittier teachers are more effective in the classroom. Grittier soldiers are more likely to complete their training Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grittier students are more likely to earn their diplomas; grittier teachers are more effective in the classroom. Grittier soldiers are more likely to complete their training, and grittier salespeople are more likely to keep their jobs. The more challenging the domain, the more grit seems to matter. Angela Duckworth

Effort is a conscious choice to act and its a choice we make again and again.Pin

Effort is a conscious choice to act, and it’s a choice we make again and again. Angela Duckworth

Grit is about working on something you love even when you feel like quitting. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grit is about working on something you love, even when you feel like quitting. Angela Duckworth

A calling is not some fully formed thing that you find. It’s much more dynamic. Whatever you do whether you’re a janitor or the CEO you can continually look at what you do aPin

A calling is not some fully formed thing that you find. It’s much more dynamic. Whatever you do – whether you’re a janitor or the CEO – you can continually look at what you do and ask how it connects to other people, how it connects to the bigger picture, how it can be an expression of your deepest values. Angela Duckworth

Grit depends on a different kind of hope. It rests on the expectation that our own efforts can improve our future. I have a feeling tomorrow will be better' is different from Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grit depends on a different kind of hope. It rests on the expectation that our own efforts can improve our future. ‘I have a feeling tomorrow will be better’ is different from ‘I resolve to make tomorrow better. The hope that gritty people have has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with getting up again. Angela Duckworth

Grit is about working on something you care about so much that youre willing to stay loyal to it.Pin

Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it. Angela Duckworth

Developing passion and perseverance is possible for anyone and everyone. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Developing passion and perseverance is possible for anyone and everyone. Anglea Duckworth

How many of us start something new, full of excitement and good intentions, and then give up permanently when we encounter the first real obstacle, the first long plateauPin

How many of us start something new, full of excitement and good intentions, and then give up – permanently – when we encounter the first real obstacle, the first long plateau in progress? Angela Duckworth Quotes

Effort is one of the things that gives meaning to life. Effort means you care about something that something is important to you and you are willing to work for it. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Effort is one of the things that gives meaning to life. Effort means you care about something, that something is important to you, and you are willing to work for it. Angela Duckworth

Grit is not an inflexible persistence in the face of adversity. Rather its a resilience and tenacity to achieve long term goals.Pin

Grit is not an inflexible persistence in the face of adversity. Rather, it’s a resilience and tenacity to achieve long-term goals. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Experts are more interested in what they did wrong so they can fix it than what they did right. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Experts are more interested in what they did wrong – so they can fix it – than what they did right. Angela Duckworth

To be gritty is to keep working on something you love even when its not going well.Pin

To be gritty is to keep working on something you love, even when it’s not going well. Angela Duckworth

Three bricklayers are asked What are you doing The first says I am laying bricks. The second says I am building a church. And the third says I am building the house of Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Three bricklayers are asked: ‘What are you doing?’ The first says, ‘I am laying bricks.’ The second says, ‘I am building a church.’ And the third says, ‘I am building the house of God.’ The first bricklayer has a job. The second has a career. The third has a calling. Angela Duckworth

Developing Grit: Quotes from Angela Duckworth

I learned a lesson Id never forget. The lesson was that when you have setbacks and failures you cant overreact to them.Pin

I learned a lesson I’d never forget. The lesson was that, when you have setbacks and failures, you can’t overreact to them. Angela Duckworth

Interest is one source of passion. Purpose the intention to contribute to the well being of others is another. The mature passions of gritty people depend on both. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Interest is one source of passion. Purpose – the intention to contribute to the well-being of others – is another. The mature passions of gritty people depend on both. Angela Duckworth

Even the most accomplished of experts start out as unserious beginners.Pin

Even the most accomplished of experts start out as unserious beginners. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Most of us become more conscientious confident caring and calm with life experience. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Most of us become more conscientious, confident, caring, and calm with life experience. Angela Duckworth

At the start of an endeavor we need encouragement and freedom to figure out what we enjoy.Pin

At the start of an endeavor, we need encouragement and freedom to figure out what we enjoy. Angela Duckworth

Grit and self control are related but theyre not the same thing. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grit and self-control are related, but they’re not the same thing. Angela Duckworth

Optimistic young adults stay healthier throughout middle age and ultimately live longer than pessimists.Pin

Optimistic young adults stay healthier throughout middle age and, ultimately, live longer than pessimists. Angela Duckworth

At various points in big ways and small we get knocked down. If we stay down grit loses. If we get up grit prevails. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

At various points, in big ways and small, we get knocked down. If we stay down, grit loses. If we get up, grit prevails. Angela Duckworth

You may choose to write your top level goal in indelible ink but until you know for sure work in pencil.Pin

You may choose to write your top-level goal in indelible ink, but until you know for sure, work in pencil. Angela Duckworth

Have a fierce resolve in everything you do. Demonstrate determination, resiliency, and tenacity. Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses. And, finally, use Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Have a fierce resolve in everything you do. Demonstrate determination, resiliency, and tenacity. Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses. And, finally, use mistakes and problems as opportunities to get better – not reasons to quit. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Grit is the drive that keeps you working hard even when its not fun.Pin

Grit is the drive that keeps you working hard, even when it’s not fun. Angela Duckworth

People with grit dont believe that failure is a permanent condition. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

People with grit don’t believe that failure is a permanent condition. Angela Duckworth

Nobody gets to be good at something without effort no matter what your aptitude is.Pin

Nobody gets to be good at something without effort, no matter what your aptitude is. Angela Duckworth

Many people are cruising through life doing precisely zero hours of deliberate practice. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Many people are cruising through life doing precisely zero hours of deliberate practice. Angela Duckworth

Effort is what ignites that feeling of purpose and passion.Pin

Effort is what ignites that feeling of purpose and passion. Angela Duckworth

In the most general sense, talent is the sum of a person’s abilities his or her intrinsic gifts, skills, knowledge, experience, intelligence, judgment, attitude, character Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

In the most general sense, talent is the sum of a person’s abilities – his or her intrinsic gifts, skills, knowledge, experience, intelligence, judgment, attitude, character, and drive. It also includes his or her ability to learn and grow. Angela Duckworth

Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.Pin

Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare. Angela Duckworth

You need ONE internal compass not two three four or five. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

You need ONE internal compass – not two, three, four, or five. Angela Duckworth

Grit is the result of a focus on one thing over the long term.Pin

Grit is the result of a focus on one thing over the long term. Angela Duckworth

Grit is about doing what you love but not just falling in love its staying in love. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grit is about doing what you love but not just falling in love—it’s staying in love. Angela Duckworth

Mindlessly going through the motions without improvement can be its own form of suffering.Pin

Mindlessly ‘going through the motions’ without improvement – can be its own form of suffering. Angela Duckworth Quotes

The hope that gritty people have has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with getting up again. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

The hope that gritty people have has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with getting up again. Angela Duckworth

Grit is not just a simple elbow grease term for rugged persistence. It is an often invisible display of endurance that lets you stay in an uncomfortable place, work hard toPin

Grit is not just a simple elbow-grease term for rugged persistence. It is an often invisible display of endurance that lets you stay in an uncomfortable place, work hard to improve upon a given interest, and do it again and again. Angela Duckworth

You must zero in on your weaknesses, and you must do so over and over again, for hours a day, week after month after year. To be gritty is to resist complacency. 'Whatever it Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

You must zero in on your weaknesses, and you must do so over and over again, for hours a day, week after month after year. To be gritty is to resist complacency. ‘Whatever it takes, I want to improve!’ is a refrain of all paragons of grit, no matter their particular interest, and no matter how excellent they already are. Angela Duckworth

A Champion of Grit: Angela Duckworth Quotes

Just about any occupation can be a job career or calling.Pin

Just about any occupation can be a job, career, or calling.

The most dazzling human achievements are in fact the aggregate of countless individual elements each of which is in a sense ordinary. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

The most dazzling human achievements are, in fact, the aggregate of countless individual elements, each of which is, in a sense, ordinary. Angela Duckworth

Grit may carry risk because its about putting all your eggs in one basket to some extent.Pin

Grit may carry risk because it’s about putting all your eggs in one basket, to some extent. Angela Duckworth Quotes

To me, the most shocking thing about grit is how little we know, how little science knows, about building it. Every day, parents and teachers ask me, 'How do I build grit in Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

To me, the most shocking thing about grit is how little we know, how little science knows, about building it. Every day, parents and teachers ask me, ‘How do I build grit in kids? What do I do to teach kids a solid work ethic? How do I keep them motivated for the long run?’ The honest answer is, I don’t know. Angela Duckworth

Substituting nuance for novelty is what experts do and that is why they are never bored.Pin

Substituting nuance for novelty is what experts do, and that is why they are never bored. Angela Duckworth

Boredom is a very self conscious emotion by definition. Interest is not. So you can actually be completely absorbed in something and, at certain points in your development Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Boredom is a very self-conscious emotion by definition. Interest is not. So you can actually be completely absorbed in something and, at certain points in your development, not even realize that you’re into it. Angela Duckworth

Grit holds special significance for the achievement of excellence.Pin

Grit holds special significance for the achievement of excellence.

Go past those negative beliefs in whats possible and impossible and just give it a try. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Go past those negative beliefs in what’s possible and impossible and just give it a try. Angela Duckworth

To be gritty is to resist complacency.Pin

To be gritty is to resist complacency. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Most gritty people see their world ultimate aims as deeply connected to the world beyond themselves. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Most gritty people see their world ultimate aims as deeply connected to the world beyond themselves. Angela Duckworth

Grit is about holding the same top level goal for a very long time.Pin

Grit is about holding the same top-level goal for a very long time. Angela Duckworth

Grit is the stubborn refusal to quit. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

Grit is the stubborn refusal to quit. Angela Duckworth

If you keep practicing in the same time and place what once took conscious thought to initiate becomes automatic.Pin

If you keep practicing in the same time and place, what once took conscious thought to initiate becomes automatic. Angela Duckworth

For the beginner novelty is anything that hasnt been encountered before. For the expert novelty is nuance. Angela Duckworth QuotesPin

For the beginner, novelty is anything that hasn’t been encountered before. For the expert, novelty is nuance. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Effort counts twice. When you strive to improve your skills and use them to serve a purpose you not only enhance your present but you also build a foundation for your future.Pin

Effort counts twice. When you strive to improve your skills and use them to serve a purpose, you not only enhance your present, but you also build a foundation for your future. Angela Duckworth

One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just in love for a day or a week. People who are reallyPin

One thing that’s true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they’re not just in love for a day or a week. People who are really gritty they’re still interested. Angela Duckworth

Gritty people do more deliberate practice and experience more flow.Pin

Gritty people do more deliberate practice and experience more flow. Angela Duckworth

If youre not failing youre probably not really moving forward.Pin

If you’re not failing, you’re probably not really moving forward. Angela Duckworth

A fixed mindset about ability leads to pessimistic explanations of adversity, and that, in turn, leads to both giving up on challenges and avoiding them in the first place.Pin

A fixed mindset about ability leads to pessimistic explanations of adversity, and that, in turn, leads to both giving up on challenges and avoiding them in the first place. In contrast, a growth mindset leads to optimistic ways of explaining adversity, and that, in turn, leads to perseverance and seeking out new challenges that will ultimately make you even stronger. Angela Duckworth

It isnt suffering that leads to hopelessness. Its suffering you think you cant control.Pin

It isn’t suffering that leads to hopelessness. It’s suffering you think you can’t control. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Deliberate practice is for preparation and flow is for performance.Pin

Deliberate practice is for preparation, and flow is for performance. Angela Duckworth

Dont wait until youre an expert to start. Start now and youll become an expert over time.Pin

Don’t wait until you’re an expert to start. Start now, and you’ll become an expert over time. Angela Duckworth

Grit grows as we figure out our life philosophy, learn to dust ourselves off after rejection and disappointment, and learn to tell the difference between low level goals thatPin

Grit grows as we figure out our life philosophy, learn to dust ourselves off after rejection and disappointment, and learn to tell the difference between low-level goals that should be abandoned quickly and higher-level goals that demand more tenacity. Angela Duckworth

Grit is about finishing what you begin and working hard even when the excitement fades.Pin

Grit is about finishing what you begin and working hard even when the excitement fades. Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth Quotes for Grit in Everyday Life (Overcome)

Effort is a necessary condition for any kind of success.Pin

Effort is a necessary condition for any kind of success. Angela Duckworth

Our early interests are fragile vaguely defined and in need of energetic years long cultivation and refinement.Pin

Our early interests are fragile, vaguely defined, and in need of energetic, years-long cultivation and refinement. Angela Duckworth Quotes

At its core the idea of purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves.Pin

At its core, the idea of purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves. Angela Duckworth

Grit is a marathon not a sprint. Its about sustaining your passion and perseverance over the long haul.Pin

Grit is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about sustaining your passion and perseverance over the long haul. Angela Duckworth

Everybody knows that effort matters. What was revelatory to me was how much it mattered.Pin

Everybody knows that effort matters. What was revelatory to me was how much it mattered. Angela Duckworth

If youre never able to tolerate a little bit of pain and discomfort youll never get better.Pin

If you’re never able to tolerate a little bit of pain and discomfort, you’ll never get better. Angela Duckworth

I won’t just have a job; I’ll have a calling. I’ll challenge myself every day. When I get knocked down, I’ll get back up. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I’llPin

I won’t just have a job; I’ll have a calling. I’ll challenge myself every day. When I get knocked down, I’ll get back up. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I’ll strive to be the grittiest. Angela Duckworth

Indeed, the calculated costs and benefits of passion and perseverance don't always add up, at least in the short run. It's often more 'sensible' to give up and move on.Pin

Indeed, the calculated costs and benefits of passion and perseverance don’t always add up, at least in the short run. It’s often more ‘sensible’ to give up and move on. It can be years or more before grit’s dividends pay off. Angela Duckworth

A lack of grit can come from having less coherent goal structures.Pin

A lack of grit can come from having less coherent goal structures. Angela Duckworth Quotes

As soon as possible, experts hungrily seek feedback on how they did. Necessarily, much of that feedback is negative. This means that experts are more interested in what they didPin

As soon as possible, experts hungrily seek feedback on how they did. Necessarily, much of that feedback is negative. This means that experts are more interested in what they did wrong – so they can fix it – than what they did right. The active processing of this feedback is as essential as its immediacy. Angela Duckworth

Great performers in every domain improve through deliberate practice.Pin

Great performers in every domain improve through deliberate practice. Angela Duckworth

In the long run the key to achievement isnt talent. Its effort.Pin

In the long run, the key to achievement isn’t talent. It’s effort. Angela Duckworth

I have a feeling tomorrow will be better is different from I resolve to make tomorrow better.Pin

‘I have a feeling tomorrow will be better’ is different from ‘I resolve to make tomorrow better.’Anglea Duckworth

No whining. No complaining. No excuses.Pin

No whining. No complaining. No excuses. Angela Duckworth Quotes

The best way to stick with a chore is to make it a choice not a chore.Pin

The best way to stick with a chore is to make it a choice, not a chore. Angela Duckworth

Grit, in a word, is stamina. But it's not just stamina in your effort. It's also stamina in your direction, stamina in your interests. If you are working on different thingsPin

Grit, in a word, is stamina. But it’s not just stamina in your effort. It’s also stamina in your direction, stamina in your interests. If you are working on different things but all of them very hard, you’re not really going to get anywhere. You’ll never become an expert. Angela Duckworth

Grit is what allows you to continue on a path thats important to you even when you face setbacks and failures.Pin

Grit is what allows you to continue on a path that’s important to you, even when you face setbacks and failures. Angela Duckworth

Every successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do.Pin

Every successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do. Angela Duckworth

To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal.Pin

To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses.Pin

Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses. Angela Duckworth

Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance.Pin

Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance. Angela Duckworth
Passion is the spark but its perseverance that lights up the torch and keeps it burning.Pin
Passion is the spark, but it’s perseverance that lights up the torch and keeps it burning. Angela Duckworth

When it comes to how we fare in the marathon of life effort counts tremendously.Pin

When it comes to how we fare in the marathon of life, effort counts tremendously. Angela Duckworth Quotes

Interest without purpose is nearly impossible to sustain for a lifetime.Pin

Interest without purpose is nearly impossible to sustain for a lifetime. Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth: Unearthing Grit, Redefining Success

Angela Lee Duckworth, born on November 15, 1970, is an American psychologist and author known for her groundbreaking research on grit and its impact on success. Raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Duckworth demonstrated academic excellence early on, earning a degree in Neurobiology from Harvard College in 1992. Despite her early accomplishments, her journey towards becoming a renowned psychologist and a leading figure in the field of positive psychology was marked by a series of transformations.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Duckworth took an unexpected turn by leaving a demanding job in management consulting to pursue a more challenging path—teaching seventh-grade math in the New York City public schools. This experience ignited her interest in understanding the factors that contribute to academic achievement beyond traditional measures of intelligence.

Duckworth’s pivot to education laid the foundation for her groundbreaking research on grit, a term she defines as a combination of passion and perseverance over the long term. In her extensive studies, Duckworth has shown that grit is a key predictor of success in various fields, from academia to business. Her work challenges conventional notions of talent and intelligence, emphasizing the critical role that sustained effort and determination play in achieving one’s goals.

In 2007, Duckworth completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Seligman, a prominent figure in positive psychology. Her dissertation, focused on grit as a predictor of success, laid the groundwork for her subsequent influential contributions to the field.

Angela Duckworth’s impact extends beyond academia. She is the founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit organization that aims to advance the science and practice of character development in children. Through her various roles as an educator, researcher, and author, Duckworth has become a sought-after speaker, sharing her insights on grit, perseverance, and character development.

In 2016, Duckworth published her bestselling book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” where she delves into the science behind grit and its role in achieving long-term goals. The book has received widespread acclaim for its accessible presentation of complex psychological concepts and its practical applications in real-life scenarios.

Angela Duckworth’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2013, often referred to as a “genius grant.” Her research continues to inspire educators, parents, and individuals worldwide, challenging them to rethink traditional notions of success and embrace the power of grit in the pursuit of long-term goals. Duckworth’s commitment to understanding the human drive for achievement has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the fields of psychology and education.

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