A Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Solitude, the safeguard of mediocrity, is to genius the stern friend

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote Topics

Friend Genius Mediocrity Safeguard Solitude Stern

Quote Author

Ralph Waldo Emerson
American - Philosopher
May 25, 1803 - April 27, 1882

Solitude, the safeguard of mediocrity, is to genius, the stern friend, the cold, obscure shelter where moult the wings which will bear it farther than suns and stars.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

One must indeed be ignorant of the methods of genius to suppose that it allows itself to be cramped by forms. Forms are for mediocrity, and it is fortunate that mediocrity can act only according to routine. Ability takes its flight unhindered.

Napoleon Bonaparte

People talk, 'Oh your father's a misogynist, look what he said about women,' like, on 'Howard Stern.' When he gets with Howard Stern, who's a friend of his, he'll joke around, because it's a comedy show. He's allowed to have a personality.

Donald Trump, Jr.

Solitude is creativity's best friend, and solitude is refreshment for our souls.

Naomi Judd

For I think it is the case with genius that it is not when quiescent so very much above mediocrity as the difference between the two might lead us to think, but that it has the power and privilege of rising from that level to a height utterly far from mediocrity: in other words that its greatness is that it can be so great.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Half the pleasure of solitude comes from having with us some friend to whom we can say how sweet solitude is.

William Jay

Mediocrity borrows, genius steals.

Igor Stravinsky

In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.

Robert Green Ingersoll

Mediocrity can talk, but it is for genius to observe.

Benjamin Disraeli

If you stick with a vision, it might not all work, but some of it will be absolute genius. To me, 15 minutes worth of absolute genius in a film is so much better than two hours of mediocrity. I would rather pay to see something different like that.

Kim Cattrall

Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.

Fulton J. Sheen

There is no gap as wide as the one between mediocrity and genius.

Rutvik Oza

Education is a companion which no misfortune can depress, no crime can destroy, no enemy can alienate, no despotism can enslave. At home, a friend, abroad, an introduction, in solitude a solace and in society an ornament. It chastens vice, it guides virtue, it gives at once grace and government to genius. Without it, what is man? A splendid slave, a reasoning savage.