Hard work and discipline
There are plenty of good people, but only a very, very few are precise and disciplined.
— Anton Chekhov (1860–1904), Letter to V.A. Posse (February 15, 1900)

Hard work and discipline

What it means

Good intentions are common; precision and discipline are rare. Chekhov valued the people who were both good and dependable.

About the author

Anton Chekhov — Russian dramatist and author (1860–1904).

Source and verification

Source
Letter to V.A. Posse (February 15, 1900)
Reference
Anton Chekhov on Wikiquote
Checked
Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright
Public domain: the author died in 1904.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.