I’m reminded of inventor Thomas Edison’s words:
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.*
For some time, educators have discussed how students need to develop “grit,” that quality of tenacity, stick-to-it-tive-ness, and “perspiration.” 
The term has a particular edge to it that means to encourage students to work through difficulties–say, in following through with a big project, or puzzling out a complex math problem.
Grit is good. But what about inspiration? I think there’s more to inspiration than one percent.
When you surround your family with music, art, books, travel, being outdoors, and opportunities to play, you help inspire children. For example, if you watch and listen when children play dress up or Legos, you might hear bits of stories and experiences woven in to their play. Those bits are inspiration that feed your child’s creative imagination.
Some children become so inspired to continue this kind of play that they stick to it until they feel finished. That’s grit or perspiration. And it always begins with inspiration.
Bartlett, J. (1968). Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. 14th Edition. Boston: Little, Brown.
Education Spring 
I couldn’t be sure about the particular percentages (it sure varies) but the essence of the quote is so true: you need talent but more than that, you need to work hard for what you want. It’s kinda interesting how a lot of stories portray overnight success more and better than a real “work hard” story.
Thanks for this quote!
Andrea from Music & Words blog
Volunteer in Damyanti’s D Company #atozchallenge
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Thank you for your insightful comment. You remind me that we don’t always know if we have a talent unless we try something and work at it.
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Great blog post. I look forward to reading more from you
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Thanks for visiting. I, too, almost chose to write on “justice” today and then got depressed thinking about the Supreme Court issue..
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Justice has been a pretty common one for today. I’m sorry that its got you thinking bad things though
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Maybe it’ll all balance out!
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