Sometimes men come by the name of genius in the same way that certain insects come by the name of read more

Sometimes men come by the name of genius in the same way that certain insects come by the name of centipede--not because they have a hundred feet, but because most people can't count above fourteen.

As diamond cuts diamond, and one hone smooths a second, all the
parts of intellect are whetstones to each read more

As diamond cuts diamond, and one hone smooths a second, all the
parts of intellect are whetstones to each other; and genius,
which is but the result of their mutual sharpening, is character
too.

Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.
It takes a touch of genius--and a lot read more

Any 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.

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent--the power to do the right thing the first time.

Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent--the power to do the right thing the first time.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for read more

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men--that is genius.

No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. read more

But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.