It is the clearer presence of God Most High in a man. Dim, potential in all men; in this man it has become clear, actual.
1840s, Past and Present (1843)
1840s, Past and Present (1843)
“Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.”
Source: Books, Coningsby (1844), Endymion (1880), Ch. 8.
“Genius inspires resentment. A sad fact of life.”
Source: The Time Paradox
“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Spoken statement (c. 1903); published in Harper's Monthly (September 1932).
Variants:
None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes. What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Statement in a press conference (1929), as quoted in Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel & Charles Lindbergh (1987) by James D. Newton, p. 24.
Variant forms without early citation: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework."
"Genius: one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
1900s
Variant: Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety nine perspiration.
“That adage about genius being 5 percent inspiration and 95 perspiration - it's true.”
Yanni in Words. Miramax Books. Co-author David Rensin
As quoted in What Is the Sangha?: The Nature of Spritual Community (2001) by Sangharakshita, p. 136.
““Genius such as yours is a genetic gift.”
“So I have heard from my parents.””
Source: The Void Captain's Tale (1983), Chapter 7 (p. 83)
“What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”
Source: Prayer
“Freedom is not our gift to the world it is God's gift to humanity.”
“Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”
