Those who pretend to know things without learning them beforehand are blunt liars. Knowledge is not inherited, it is acquired. Even geniuses go through the process of learning; the only difference is their capacity to synthesise what they learn, knock at the right doors of their inquisitive nature, compare, research, engage in hard work and ? luck.

Boastful people who pretend that they shine ?naturally? without making the least effort have always existed. Their behaviour is either underpinned by sheer vanity or by the desire to impress their peers or competitors to destabilise them psychologically - how would one compete with inherited characteristics?

In a highly competitive student environment, some would play the game of troublemakers in class just to suggest that they do not have to concentrate upon their studies to succeed. They would keep secret their private tuition and the time they spend within the walls of their rooms making up for the time they lose in pretending the contrary.

They are as dishonest as they are of bad influence to credulous personalities who dangerously ape their fallacious ways. Moreover, they might discourage genuine hard workers who might ask themselves if these are not a waste.

By suggesting they are gifted individuals, they throw the dice of unfair competition on a healthy level playing field. They should be avoided at all costs because falsehood is always noxious.

No one escapes the equation of ?no pain, no gain?. One should at least read one?s literature text to grasp its contents, one cannot be inspired out of nothing, one has to be exposed to the material in some way. The only difference between people is the speed at which they learn and understand.

?Success is constancy of purpose?, would say the great Ben Disraeli and this requires patience and discipline, words that are not very appealing in a world where suggestions that things just come easy are rampant.

Do you know how much hard work is behind the acrobatic dancing and singing of your favourite stars? Do you think singer 50 cents was naturally gifted with a fatless, shiny muscular sculpture? Do you think Einstein just discovered some theories out of the blue?

Please, don?t let yourselves be impressed by those who pretend they are just gifted, born winners who escape effort. Even luck needs some effort - would you win the lottery if you did not take the trouble of buying a ticket?

<B>Alain JEANNOT</B>