“When I was about twelve, I used to think I must be a genius, but nobody's noticed. Either I'm a genius or I'm mad, which is it? "No," I said, "I can't be mad because nobody's put me away; therefore I'm a genius."”
Genius is a form of madness and we're all that way. But I used to be coy about it, like me guitar playing. But if there's such a thing as genius — I am one. And if there isn't, I don't care.
John Lennon interview with Rolling Stone magazine (December 1970)
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John Lennon228
English singer and songwriter 1940–1980Related quotes
“Baby," I said. "I'm a genius but nobody knows it but me.”
Charles Bukowski book Factotum
Source: Factotum (1975), Ch. 31
“I'm a misunderstood genius."
"What's misunderstood?"
"Nobody thinks I'm a genius.”
Bill Watterson (1958) American comic artist
Noel Coward (1899–1973) English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer
Mad About the Boy (1932)
Bill Watterson (1958) American comic artist
Source: Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons
“I don't care about that scum! Why should I receive a prize? I know that I'm a genius!”
Klaus Kinski (1926–1991) German actor
As quoted by Werner Herzog, in My Best Fiend, (1999)
“I think you're all mad. But that's part and parcel of being an artistic genius, isn't it?”
Charles de Lint (1951) author
"Baiting the Hook", p. 42
Memory and Dream (1994)
“I'm not mad that you got mad when I got mad when you said I should go drop dead.”
Jonathan Larson (1960–1996) American composer and playwright
tick, tick... BOOM! (1990)