A Quote by Janet Flanner

Genius is immediate, but talent takes time.

Janet Flanner

Quote Topics

Genius Immediate Takes Talent Time

Quote Author

Janet Flanner
American - Journalist
March 13, 1892 - November 7, 1978

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

It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.

Louisa May Alcott

Genius points the way, talent takes it.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

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

Talent jogs to conclusions to which Genius takes giant leaps.

Edwin Percy Whipple

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

Ouida

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

Anna Brownell Jameson

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

Martin Amis

It is not because the touch of genius has roused genius to production, but because the admiration of genius has made talent ambitious, that the harvest is still so abundant.

Margaret Fuller

Better is possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try.