“Genius is what a man invents when he is looking for a way out.”
“Imagination's truth is from its power:
Man's genius can create when nature's felt;
He copies when he deems that he invents.”
Translations, From the French
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Letitia Elizabeth Landon 785
English poet and novelist 1802–1838Related quotes
Letter to Revd. Dr. Trusler (1799)
Context: To the Eyes of a Miser a Guinea is more beautiful than the Sun & and a bag worn with the use of Money has more beautiful proportions than a Vine filled with Grapes. The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the Eyes of others only a Green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all Ridicule and Deformity, and by these I shall not regulate my proportions; and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the Eyes of the Man of Imagination, Nature is Imagination itself. As a man is, So he Sees. As the Eye is formed, such are its Powers..
“Man is a genius when he is dreaming.”
Variant: Man is a genius when he is dreaming.
Source: What is Philosophy? (1964), pp. 16-17
'Vale, Peter Cook' ( The Pembroke College, Cambridge, Society Annuel Gazette http://www.agsm.edu.au/bobm/odds+ends/petercook.html, September 1995)
Essays and reviews
“Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.”
Source: The Limits of Evolution, and Other Essays, Illustrating the Metaphysical Theory of Personal Ideaalism (1905), The Art-Principle as Represented in Poetry, p.199-200