Diligence defeats talent when talent naps.

Meaning: This sentence means that if a talented person is lazy, someone with less talent but who works hard can achieve more.

Choice of Words: Diligence means hard work and dedication. Defeat means to win a competition or fight. Talent means a natural ability to do something well. Nap means to take a short sleep. When you put them together, "Diligence defeats talent when talent naps" means that hard work and dedication can overcome natural talent if the talented person is not working hard.

Alternative Expressions

Hard work beats talent when talent is lazy.

Meaning: This means that hard work and dedication can beat natural talent if the talented person is not working hard.

Choice of Words: Hard work means putting in a lot of effort to do something. Beats means to overcome or defeat something. Talent means having a natural ability to do something well. Lazy means not wanting to work hard or put in effort. When you put it all together, it means that if you work hard and put in the effort, you can overcome even those who have a natural ability to do something well, but who are not working hard.

Effort trumps talent when talent rests.

Meaning: This means that hard work and dedication can beat natural talent if the talented person is not working hard.

Choice of Words: Effort means putting in a lot of work or trying hard to do something. Trumps means to defeat or overcome something. Talent means having a natural ability to do something well. Rests means to stop working or doing something for a while. When you put it all together, it means that if you put in a lot of effort and work hard, you can overcome even those who have a natural ability to do something well, but who are not putting in the effort.

Related Expressions