A Quote by Christian Nestell Bovee

Genius makes its observations in short-hand; talent writes them out at length.

Christian Nestell Bovee

Quote Topics

Genius Hand Length Makes Observations Out Short Talent Them Writes

Quote Author

Christian Nestell Bovee
American - Author
February 22, 1820 - January 18, 1904

Talent warms-up the given (as they say in cookery) and makes it apparent; genius brings something new. But our time lets talent pass for genius. They want to abolish the genius, deify the genius, and let talent forge ahead.

Soren Kierkegaard

Genius is talent provided with ideals. Genius starves while talent wears purple and fine linen. The man of genius of today will infifty years' time be in most cases no more than a man of talent.

W. Somerset Maugham

Oh, I'm not a true genius. I'm a near genius. I would say I'm a short genius. I'd rather be tall and normal than a short genius.

Mel Brooks

Talent wears well, genius wears itself out; talent drives a snug brougham in fact; genius, a sun-chariot in fancy.

Ouida

My short stories have always pushed twenty pages. That's no length for a short story to be. You either do them short like Carver or you stop trying.

Zadie Smith

I think all writers have a bit of genius in them, and a bit of talent. Genius retreats but talent improves.

Martin Amis

The difference between talent and genius is in the direction of the current: in genius, it is from within outward; in talent from without inward.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Talent is full of thoughts, Genius is thought. Talent is a cistern, Genius a fountain.

Edwin Percy Whipple

I like to teach. And when I spot talent without ambition, it makes me angry. I give students short shrift if they're not willing to do the work. Relying on talent is not enough.

F. Murray Abraham

The critic lives at second hand. He writes about. The poem, the novel, or the play must be given to him; criticism exists by the grace of other men's genius.

George Steiner

Genius is what makes us forget the master's talent.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

By and large, talent is in such short supply that mediocrity can be taken for brilliance rather more than genius can go undiscovered.

Charles Saatchi

Genius is talent in which character makes itself heard.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

the distinction between talent and genius is definite. Talent combines and uses; genius combines and creates.

Anna Brownell Jameson

But I don't think I have any particular talent for prediction, because when you have three or four elements in hand, you don't have to be a genius to reach certain conclusions.