In the middle of reading Nick Hornby’s clever book about books, The Complete Polysyllabic Spree, I came across an amazing letter from an unexpected motivational speaker, Anton Chekhov.

Below are portions of Chekhov’s letter, written in 1886, to his younger brother which were excerpted from the book, A Life in Letters, by Hornby:

You have often complained to me that people did not “understand” you. Goethe and Newton did not complain of that… Christ alone did, but He was speaking not of His ego, but of His teaching.

You have been endowed from on high with that which the bulk of humanity lacks: talent.  This talent would set you apart even if you were a toad or a tarantula, for everything is forgiven to talent.

You have only one fault. … It is your complete lack of manners.  Please forgive me, but veritas magis amicitiae [truth is a…