True passion is not about instant excitement… it’s a powerful reframe of what real commitment looks like. Forget the fleeting highs; this is about the long game. It’s the secret sauce for lasting success, not just a temporary spark.
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Meaning
This quote completely redefines passion. It’s not the initial burst of excitement; it’s the quiet, determined commitment that keeps you going long after that initial feeling has faded.
Explanation
Look, we’ve all been there. You get that new idea, that new project, and you’re all in for a week. Maybe a month. But then the grind sets in. The boring parts. The setbacks. That’s where most people fall off. What Duckworth is saying is that true passion is what you find in that grind. It’s the devotion that makes you show up on the days you don’t feel like it. It’s not a feeling, it’s a verb. It’s an action. It’s the choice you make, over and over, to stick with what matters.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Love (89) |
| Topics | devotion (4), passion (22), purpose (186) |
| Literary Style | elegant (11), reflective (255) |
| Emotion / Mood | calm (491), inspiring (392) |
| Overall Quote Score | 82 (297) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Angela Duckworth’s 2016 book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. It’s a core concept of her research. You sometimes see this idea, or similar ones, misattributed to other motivational figures, but the specific phrasing and the research-backed context are uniquely Duckworth’s.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr Angela Duckworth (58) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (58) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Angela Duckworth is a University of Pennsylvania psychology professor and MacArthur Fellow whose research focuses on grit, self-control, and achievement. She taught middle school before earning her PhD at Penn and later founded Character Lab to advance the science of character development. Her bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance has shaped thinking in education and performance science. She co-hosts No Stupid Questions on the Freakonomics network. If you’re browsing the Angela Duckworth book list, you’ll find practical, research-backed guidance for cultivating passion and perseverance.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | True passion is not about instant excitement; it’s about enduring devotion to what matters most |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2016; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1501111105; Last edition: Scribner 2016; Number of pages: 352 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 6: Interest, page 120 (2016 Edition) |