
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. ”
Toast to the artists Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo: Madrid, Spain (25 June 1884)
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. ”
"The Modern Drama" in Art, Literature and the Drama (1858).
Source: Culture and Value (1980), p. 41e
“Genius is the fire that lights itself. -Commenting on Buddy Rich.”
Other
“The genius of American culture and its integrity comes from fidelity to the light.”
"Night and Day" in Frontiers (1990)
Context: The genius of American culture and its integrity comes from fidelity to the light. Plain as day, we say. Happy as the day is long. Early to bed, early to rise. American virtues are daylight virtues: honesty, integrity, plain speech. We say yes when we mean yes and no when we mean no, and all else comes from the evil one. America presumes innocence and even the right to happiness.
“I can see that the Lady has a genius for ruling, whilst I have a genius for not being ruled.”
Letter to Thomas Carlyle (28 September 1845).
Radio Interview, July 6 2001 http://www.geocities.jp/bobbby_b/mp3/F_18_1.MP3
2000s
“Like all young men I set out to be a genius, but mercifully laughter intervened.”
The Alexandria Quartet (1957–1960), Clea (1960)