At one time I thought the most important thing was talent. I think now that - the young man or the young woman must possess or teach himself, train himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try and to try until it comes right. He must train himself in ruthless intolerance. That is, to throw away anything that is false no matter how much he might love that page or that paragraph. The most important thing is insight, that is ... curiosity to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does. And if you have that, then I don't think the talent makes much difference, whether you've got that or not
William Faulkner emphasizes that talent is not the sole determinant of success in writing; rather, the ability to cultivate infinite patience is crucial. He suggests that aspiring writers should consistently practice and refine their work, accepting that persistence is key to achieving authenticity. Additionally, Faulkner advocates for a ruthless approach to editing, encouraging writers to discard any material that is not genuine, regardless of their emotional attachment to it.
In Faulkner's view, true insight and curiosity about human behavior are more critical than mere talent. He believes that an inquisitive mind that continuously wonders and reflects on the motivations behind actions is invaluable. Hence, while talent may play a role, it is the writer's ability to understand and question the human experience that ultimately matters most in their craft.
