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Genius: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
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.— C. A. BARTOL — Radical Problems.
Individualism. Intelligence is to genius as the whole is in proportion to its part.— DE LA BRUYÈRE — The Characters or
Manners of the Present Age. Opinions. Every work of Genius is tinctured by the feelings, and often originates in the events of times.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Literary Character of Men of Genius. Ch. XXV.
Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Curiosities of Litera-
ture. Poverty of the Learned. Many men of genius must arise before a particular man of genius can appear.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Literary Character of
Men of Genius. Philosophy becomes poetry, and science imagination, in the enthusiasm of genius.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Literary Character of Men of Genius. Ch. XII.
To think, and to feel, constitute the two grand divisions of men of genius-the men of reasoning and the men of imagination.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Literary Character of Men of Genius. Ch. II.
But genius must be born, and never can be taught.— DRYDEN — Epistle X. To Congreve. L. 60.
Genius and its rewards are briefly told : A liberal nature and a niggard doom, A difficult journey to a splendid tomb.— FORSTER — Dedication of the Life and
Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith. Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such Wescarcely can praise it or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.— GOLDSMITH — Retaliation. L. 29.
Perhaps, moreover, he whose genius appears deepest and truest excels his fellows in nothing save the knack of expression; he throws out occasionally a lucky hint at truths of which every human soul is profoundly though unutterably conscious.— NATH. HAWTHORNE — Mosses from an
Old Manse. The Procession of Life. Genius, like humanity, rusts for want of use.— HAZLITT — Table Talk. On Application
to Study. Nature is the master of talent; genius is the master of nature.— J. G. HOLLAND — Plain Talk on Familiar
Subjects. Art and Life. We declare to you that the earth has exhausted its contingent of master-spirits. Now for decadence and general closing. We must make up our minds to it. We shall have no more men of genius.— VICTOR HUGO — Wm. Shakespeare. Bk. V. Ch. I.
Not oft near home does genius brightly shine, No more than precious stones while in the mine. OMAR KHAYYAM. Bodenstedt's trans. Many a genius has been slow of growth. Oaks that flourish for a thousand years do not spring up into beauty like a reed. S.— GEO. HENRY LEWES — The Spanish
Drama. Life of Lope De Vega. Ch. II. All the means of action- The shapeless masses, the materials- Lie everywhere about us. What we need Is the celestial fire to change the flint Into transparent crystal, bright and clear. That fire is genius!— LONGFELLOW — The Spanish Student. Act I. Sc. 5.
There is no work of genius which has not been the delight of mankind, no word of genius to which the human heart and soul have not, sooner or later, responded.— LOWELL — Among my Books. Rousseau
and the Sentimentalists. There is none but he Whose being I do fear; and, under him, My Genius is rebuk'd: as, it is said, Mark Antony's was by Cæsar.— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 54.
Genius inspires this thirst for fame: there is no blessing undesired by those to whom Heaven gave the means of winning it.— MADAME DE STAËL — Corinne. Bk. XVI. Ch. I.
Genius is essentially creative; it bears the stamp of the individual who possesses it. C.— MADAME DE STAËL — Corinne. Bk. VII. Ch. I.
Genius can never despise labour.— ABEL STEVENS — Life of Madame de Staël. Ch. XXXVIII.
Ducis ingenium res Adversæ nudare solent, celare secundæ. Adversity usually reveals the genius of the general, while good fortune conceals it.— HORACE — Satiræ. II. 8. 73.
Ubi jam valideis quassatum est viribus ævi Corpus, et obtuseis ceciderunt viribus artus, Claudicat ingenium delirat linguaque mensque. When the body is assailed by the strong force of time and the limbs weaken from exhausted force, genius breaks down, and mind and speech fail.— LUCRETIUS — De Rerum Natura.
III. 452. Ingenio stat sine morte decus. The honors of genius are eternal.— PROPERTIUS — Elegiæ. III. 2. 24.
Illud ingeniorum velut præcox genus, non temere unquam pervenit ad frugem. It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.— QUINTILIAN — De Institutione Oratoria.
I. 3. 1. Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixturâ dementiæ fuit. There has never been any great genius without a spice of madness.— SENECA — De Animi Tranquillitate.
XVII. 10. Nullum sæculum magnis ingeniis clausum est. No age is shut against great genius.— SENECA — Epistolæ Ad Lucilium. CII.
Entre esprit et talent il y a la proportion du tout à sa partié. Between genius and talent there is the proportion of the whole to its parts.— LA BRUYÈRE — Les Caractères. XII.
Das erste und letzte, was vom Genie gefordert wird, ist Wahrheits-Liebe. The first and last thing required of genius is the love of truth.— GOETHE — Sprüche in Prosa. III.