David_Gerard comments on Link: Paul Graham on intelligence vs determination - Less Wrong

14 Post author: Vladimir_Golovin 24 March 2011 08:18AM

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Comment author: David_Gerard 24 March 2011 12:44:06PM 4 points [-]

This is a commonplace of motivational self-help, e.g. the famous quote from Calvin Coolidge:

Nothing in the 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. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Obviously, you need something worth persisting with. But the capacity for mental long-distance endurance is an important strength to have to achieve a goal.

(I have very little, fwiw.)

Comment author: Dr_Manhattan 24 March 2011 03:17:05PM 0 points [-]

for mental long-distance endurance

I do not this this is what he means by 'determination'

Comment author: David_Gerard 24 March 2011 04:10:16PM *  0 points [-]

Hmm, possibly. I think that at worst it's closely related to other possible qualities he's describing.

Comment author: Dr_Manhattan 24 March 2011 05:28:38PM 2 points [-]

I suspect in startup context what he meant is closer to "stubbornness in the face of failure", ability to mentally deal with obstacles.

Comment author: David_Gerard 24 March 2011 05:39:19PM 0 points [-]

Um, that's pretty much what I read the Coolidge quote as talking about.

Comment author: Dr_Manhattan 24 March 2011 06:06:39PM 3 points [-]

Sorry, I interpreted your "for mental long-distance endurance" meaning traversing long inferential distances.

Comment author: David_Gerard 24 March 2011 06:25:25PM 0 points [-]

I think that would be more to do with raw intelligence :-)

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