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 the transparent crystal, bright and clear. That fire is genius.''

A genius can never expect to have a good time anywhere, if he is a genuine article, but America is about the last place in which life will be endurable at all for an inspired writer of any kind.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together.

Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.

The greatest genius will never be worth much if he pretends to draw exclusively from his own resources.

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

Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius.

There is one subtle but important difference between genius and stupidity and that is that genius has its limits. You'll see yourself clearest in the eyes of your friends.

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.

It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.