Immense Talent vs Great Potential

[Jin22]

I intended to detail and get very descriptive with this topic but intead I'll shorten and say this instead--a talented warrior can lose to a fighter with great potential...and vise versa. My request for this topic, simply choose which of the two you prefer.

Here are a few examples:

The Talented-Those who aquire a huge power at very young age with little to no effort.

-Gohan- ~Dragon Ball Z
-Shinobu Sensui- ~Yuyu Hakusho
-Anakin Skywalker- ~Star Wars
-Itachi Uchiha- ~Naruto
-Portagas D. Ace- ~One Piece
-Ichigo- ~Bleach


Those with Great Poential-Powerful warriors who had to put great effort into aquiring their power.

-Goku- ~Dragonball Z
-Yusuke Urameshi- ~Yuyu Hakusho
-Luke Skywalker ~Star Wars (As a teen, Luke's force rating wasn't even half that of what Anakin's was when Anakin was seven. Luke evenually surpasses Yoda himself.
-Naruto- ~Naruto
-Roronoa Zoro ~One Piece
-Gutts- ~Berserk

[CrazyMoronX]

Personally, I'd rather have talent. Only because I'm lazy.

But the hardworking types like Lee and Gai are wesome.

In an actual fight, hardwork overcomes great genius/talent! Unless the talented person is also a hardworker, then you're screwed.

[Rice Ball]

Great Potential wins if it gets prep time :)

[Sieg]

CMX is right. I'm also a lazy bastard and fear those with great potential.

[Jio]

Great potential, with talent you will get so far, but if someone has greater potential his skills will surpass yours.

Ohh and ichigo slides more into the potential section.

[The MMAthematician]

^No one can deny that he gained power that could rival and beat Captains that have trained for hundreds of years. This is pure talent.

[Havoc]

Potential can be easily wasted if you don't apply yourself, whereas talent is already present so you don't have to do anything. So I'd pick talent.

[Insipidipity]

Potential has to be manifested. Talent, if you have it its guaranteed.

They're not mutally exclusive though so one can't necessarily be better than the other. Talent has more to do with achievement of potential and the rate of such.
Potential is like acceleration.
Talent is like velocity. High amounts will get you further
Achievement/power is like distance.

[Envy]

I intended to detail and get very descriptive with this topic but intead I'll shorten and say this instead--a talented warrior can lose to a fighter with great potential...and vise versa. My request for this topic, simply choose which of the two you prefer.

Here are a few examples:

The Talented-Those who aquire a huge power at very young age with little to no effort.

-Gohan- ~Dragon Ball Z
-Shinobu Sensui- ~Yuyu Hakusho
-Anakin Skywalker- ~Star Wars
-Itachi Uchiha- ~Naruto
-Portagas D. Ace- ~One Piece
-Ichigo- ~Bleach


Those with Great Poential-Powerful warriors who had to put great effort into aquiring their power.

-Goku- ~Dragonball Z
-Yusuke Urameshi- ~Yuyu Hakusho
-Luke Skywalker ~Star Wars (As a teen, Luke's force rating wasn't even half that of what Anakin's was when Anakin was seven. Luke evenually surpasses Yoda himself.
-Naruto- ~Naruto
-Roronoa Zoro ~One Piece
-Gutts- ~Berserk

Shinobu, Gohan, and Anakin belong in acquiring. Naruto had Kyuubi. He didn't have to work hard; it wasn't his fault he couldn't mold chakra. He belongs in the first category.

[Pimp of Pimps]

If the perso actually tries to harness his potiental, he will overcome the talent of another.

Hardwork >>>>>> All

[Insipidipity]

If the perso actually tries to harness his potiental, he will overcome the talent of another.

Hardwork >>>>>> All
Not if the other person has more potential than them.

[hjkou]

The Talented-Those who aquire a huge power at very young age with little to no effort.

Those with Great Poential-Powerful warriors who had to put great effort into aquiring their power.

-Goku- ~Dragonball Z

incase you didnt know, gohan had potential to become stronger than goku, but he stopped training.
thats fact

[Jin22]

incase you didnt know, gohan had potential to become stronger than goku, but he stopped training.
thats factGood, you know your dragonball. In any case by using those examples, I think my point was made clear. I do agree with you by the way. :amuse

Concerning anime, two things that come to mind when I think of talent and potential is: 1. The comparison Kakashi makes between Sasuke and Naruto. What did Naruto do in the eyes of Kakashi for him to quickly distinguish who between the two had more potential? Of course there is Kyuubi but was there a possibilty that there was something else? 2.Hitsuguya and Ichigo of Bleach. Hitsuguya for obvious reasons, and then there's Ichigo. I just began Bleach maybe a week ago and I'm all the way past his fight with Kenpachi(this show got me hooked). I'm still dumbfounded how monstrously powerful this guy got so quick! Even in times of desperation, only talent can get you that powerful that fast.

Between being talented or harboring potential, unless I was aware of the potential I had, I'd probably go with being talented. Life would be made so much easier. :P

[Pimp of Pimps]

Not if the other person has more potential than them.

Of course. But if the person with more potiental doesn't have the fortitude to keep going he will get let behind.

Overall it depends on many factors.

[Quoll]

@jin22 - I could be wrong but I think it was also stated that Naruto naturally has huge chakra reserves(of course, nowhere near kyuubi's).

[tri-sapphire]

What about people with both talent and potential?

Anyways, I don't really agree with the definitions in the first post. IMO:


The Talented: Those who are very adept in a certain field (be it fighting, or painting). More talent means faster progression.

Ichigo - incredibly large spirit power, progression is unbelievable (training with Urahara, fighting Kenpachi, obtaining bankai)

Saiyans - grow stronger after every fight. Progression also amazing (Vegeta's boost after getting beaten up and healed, training until worn out = big boost)

Sasuke and Itachi - Itachi has much more talent than Sasuke (Itachi was a prodigy, while Sasuke is only a genius), but both are very adept when it comes to the ninja arts.


Those with Great Potential: Those whose limits are very high, or beyond normal in a certain field. More potential means higher maximum (strength, skill, finess, whatever).

Gohan - largest potential in DBZ

Sasuke - Oro said his eyes would surpass Itachi's

Orochimaru - is there a limit to what he can accomplish with eternal life? he himself stated that the number of possible jutsu are near endless.


In other words,

Talent=adeptitude/growth speed
Potential=maximum limits

Or going with Insipidipity's analogy:

Talent = acceleration
Potential = the length of the road
Ability = length one has travelled so far

Everyone has a certain amount of talent dictating how fast they improve.
Everyone has a certain amount of potential dictating how much they can improve.

Choosing between talent and potential would depend the amount of both one would recieve. Infinite potential is hard to make use of with zero talent, and maybe even impossible considering how short life is. Infinite talent is useless if your potential is stuck at a normal level.


Conclusion: This question goes beyond simple matters such as picking an archetype in shounen fighting. Especially when one considers that the human mind might not have any limits (infinite potential).

As it is though, I usually find that the badass and talented characters end up as my favorites. ie: Dark Schneider, Vampire Hunter D, Kimimaro, Haku, Magus (CT), etc.



(PS: I think you actually wanted to make a Talent vs Hard Work thread. Potential isn't really about hard work, as both a hard working fighter and a talented fighter can have the same level of potential with no conflictions)