Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent
Quote Investigator traces the passage to a family beginning with Munger’s On the Threshold (1881). Edward H. Hart emphasized persistence in a 1902 version; a close version was credited to Coolidge by 1929.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” — An evolving passage: precursor by Theodore Thornton Munger (1881), persistence version by Edward H. Hart (1902), later versions credited to Calvin Coolidge by 1929. The whole displayed wording is not a verbatim Munger quotation.
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In context
Evoking the world of Theodore Thornton Munger — American minister and author. Theme: "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
The source
Source
On the Threshold; later adapted versions
Evidence
Checked secondary citation; primary artifact not independently inspected
Documented date
1881
A purpose is the eternal condition of success. Nothing will take its place.
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The cited underlying artifact was not independently inspected; the conclusion is limited to this evidence. Research and citations ↗
The identified precursor is an 1881 work, but the displayed passage combines later wording. Its exact publication history and rights were not independently established, so no blanket public-domain claim is made.
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Fact-check
Often misattributed
Coolidge is associated with a later version, but the passage evolved before that attribution. Munger is credited here as the documented precursor, not as author of every word displayed.
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Popular creditCalvin Coolidge
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Filed under
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Theodore Thornton Munger wrote a book of guidance for young readers called On the Threshold. It contains the earlier passage from which Quote Investigator traces this family of sayings.
For writers & researchers
Cite this
The primary source (Chicago)
O’Toole, Garson. “Purpose and Persistence Are Required for Success; Unrewarded Genius Is Almost a Proverb.” Quote Investigator, January 12, 2016. Discusses Munger, On the Threshold (1881), and later versions.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/nothing-in-this-world-can-take-the-place-of-persistence/