You can’t will yourself to be passionate. It’s a truth that so many of us get backwards. We think passion is the starting gun, but really, it’s the prize you find along the marathon.
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Meaning
The core message here is a complete reframe of how we think about passion. It’s not a prerequisite you must magically possess before you begin. It’s a byproduct. A result.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a hundred times. People wait. They sit around hoping for a lightning bolt of passion to strike them so they can finally start that business, learn that instrument, change that career. But it doesn’t work that way. Passion is more like a slow-burning ember than a firework. You have to get your hands dirty first. You have to commit to the process, to the doing, even when it’s frustrating. That’s where the magic happens. You stumble upon a tiny detail that fascinates you, you solve one small problem, and that little spark of satisfaction… that’s the seed. You water it with consistent effort, and over time—and I’m talking months, years—that’s what blossoms into a deep, enduring passion. It’s an effect of mastery, not a cause.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Career (192) |
| Topics | passion (22), purpose (186) |
| Literary Style | poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | gentle (183), reflective (382) |
| 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 cornerstone of her research. You sometimes see this idea floating around unattributed, but the specific phrasing and the underlying data supporting it are Duckworth’s. It came from her work in the United States, synthesizing psychology and her studies of high achievers.
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 | You can’t will yourself to be passionate about something. Passion grows as you discover what moves you and pursue it deeply |
| 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 118 (2016 Edition) |