Talent, lying in the understanding, is often inherited; genius, being the action of reason and imagination, rarely or never.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Unpretending mediocrity is good, and genius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius in an essentially common person is detestable. It spoils the grand neutrality of a commonplace character, as the rinsings of an unwashed wineglass spoil a draught of fair water.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Improvement makes straight roads; but the crooked roads without improvement are the roads of genius.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
There are geniuses in trade as well as in war, or the state, or letters; and the reason why this or that man is fortunate is not to be told. It lies in the man: that is all anybody can tell you about it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.
—Common Proverb
A man’s genius is always, in the beginning of life, as much unknown to himself as to others; and it is only after frequent trials, attended with success, that he dares think himself equal to those undertakings in which those who have succeeded have fixed the admiration of mankind.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.
—E. F. Schumacher (1911–77) German Mathematician, Economist
Genius must have talent as its complement and implement, just as in like manner imagination must have fancy. In short, the higher intellectual powers can only act through a corresponding energy of the lower.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Since when was genius found respectable?
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
Genius is often only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it—so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. In business sometimes prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the turn. A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Ridicule is the tribute paid to the genius by the mediocrities.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Genius, in truth, means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm. — It is the real allegory of the tale of Orpheus; it moves stones, and charms brutes. — It is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Democracy don’t rule the world, you better get that in your head. This world is ruled by violence, but I guess that’s better left unsaid.
—Bob Dylan (b.1941) American Singer-songwriter
Genius is an intellect that has become unfaithful to its destiny.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
The greatest genius will never be worth much if he pretends to draw exclusively from his own resources.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Geniuses are the luckiest of mortals because what they must do is the same as what they most want to do.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
I can’t tell you if genius is hereditary, because heaven has granted me no offspring.
—James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) American Painter, Etcher
I know no such thing as genius; it is nothing but labor and diligence.
—William Hogarth (1697–1764) English Painter, Cartoonist, Social Critic
Everybody hates a prodigy, detests an old head on young shoulders.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
There is a genius in every man and woman, waiting to be brought forth.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Genius is initiative on fire.
—Holbrook Jackson (1874–1948) British Journalist, Writer, Publisher
If there is anything that can be called genius, it consists chiefly in the ability to give that attention to a subject which keeps it steadily in the mind, till we have surveyed it accurately on all sides.
—Thomas Reid (1710–96) Scottish Philosopher, Clergyman
Every true genius is bound to be naive.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
It takes a lot of time to be a genius. You have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing.
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American Writer
I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Genius is an African who dreams up snow.
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) Russian-born American Novelist
Enthusiasm is that secret and harmonious spirit which hovers over the production of genius.
—Isaac D’Israeli (1766–1848) English Writer, Scholar
Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
There is in every madman a misunderstood genius whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him.
—Antonin Artaud (1896–1948) French Actor, Drama Theorist
In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
He was a genius – that is to say, a man who does superlatively and without obvious effort something that most people cannot do by the uttermost exertion of their abilities.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canada Journalist, Playwright, Academic, Critic, Novelist
Every production of genius must be the production of enthusiasm.
—Isaac D’Israeli (1766–1848) English Writer, Scholar
Childhood and genius have the same master-organ in common — inquisitiveness. — Let childhood have its way, and as it began where genius begins, it may find what genius finds.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Courage has genius, power, and magic in it. Only engage, and then the mind grows heated. Begin it and the work is completed.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Genius must be born; it never can be taught.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Nature is the master of talents; genius is the master of nature.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
Constant effort and frequent mistakes are the stepping stones of genius.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.
—Bruce Feirstein (b.1956) American Screenwriter, Humorist
Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open.
—Shakti Gawain (b.1948) American Author, Environmentalist
Genius is the gold in the mine; talent is the miner who works and brings it out.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Writer
The man of genius inspires us with a boundless confidence in our own powers.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
The real people of genius were resolute workers not idle dreamers.
—George Henry Lewes (1817–78) English Philosopher, Literary Critic, Art Critic
What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspiration is nothing other than finding the right road empirically, following one’s nose, taking shortcuts.
—Italo Calvino (1923–85) Italian Novelist, Essayist, Journalist
When the creations of a genius collide with the mind of a layman, and produce an empty sound, there is little doubt as to which is at fault.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
The kind of intelligence a genius has is a different sort of intelligence. The thinking of a genius does not proceed logically. It leaps with great ellipses. It pulls knowledge from God knows where.
—Dorothy Thompson (1893–1961) American Journalist, Radio Personality
We are all geniuses up to the age of ten.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The first and last thing required of genius is, love of the truth.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The divine egoism hat is genius.
—Mary Webb (1881–1927) English Novelist, Poet, Writer
Geniuses themselves don’t talk about the gift of genius, they just talk about hard work and long hours.
—James Cash Penney (1875–1971) American Entrepreneur
The man of genius is he and he alone who finds such joy in his art that he will work at it come hell or high water.
—Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle) (1783–1842) French Writer
Great genius takes shape by contact with another great genius, but, less by assimilation than by fiction.
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
Experience isn’t interesting until it begins to repeat itself—in fact, till it does that, it hardly is experience.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable.
—Margot Fonteyn (1919–91) English Classical Ballet Dancer
Genius is eternal patience.
—Michelangelo (1475–1564) Italian Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Poet, Engineer
Few people can see genius in someone who has offended them.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canada Journalist, Playwright, Academic, Critic, Novelist
Men of genius are rarely much annoyed by the company of vulgar people.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Every man of genius sees the world at a different angle from his fellows, and there is his tragedy.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
Cleverness is a sort of genius for instrumentality. It is the brain of the hand. In literature, cleverness is more frequently accompanied by wit, genius, and sense, than by humor.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Masterpieces are not single and solitary births; they are the outcome of many years of thinking in common, of thinking by the body of the people, so that the experience of the mass is behind the single voice.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
Every man is a potential genius until he does something.
—Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) English Actor, Theater Personality
Genius is a promontory jutting out into the infinite.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
—William Hutchinson Murray (1913–96) Scottish Mountaineer
Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
It is not because the touch of genius has roused genius to production, but because the admiration of genius has made talent ambitious, that the harvest is still so abundant.
—Margaret Fuller (1810–50) American Feminist, Writer, Revolutionary
Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
Everybody denies I am a genius –but nobody ever called me one!
—Orson Welles (1915–85) American Film Director, Actor