A genius is the man in whom you are least likely to find the power of attending to anything insipid or distasteful in itself. He breaks his engagements, leaves his letters unanswered, neglects his family duties incorrigibly, because he is powerless to turn his attention down and back from those more interesting trains of imagery with which his genius constantly occupies his mind.
Interpretation
A genius is often absorbed in their own creative thoughts, which can lead to neglecting mundane responsibilities.
This quote by William James highlights the nature of genius, suggesting that true creative minds are deeply engaged with fascinating ideas and inspirations, often to the detriment of their everyday responsibilities. It implies that such individuals may struggle to focus on routine or uninteresting tasks, as their thoughts are captured by more stimulating pursuits, leading to a tendency to neglect obligations like family and correspondence. This view invites reflection on the trade-offs between creative brilliance and practical commitments.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a discussion about the challenges faced by creative individuals in balancing work and personal life.
Many persons nowadays seem to think that any conclusion must be very scientific if the arguments in favor of it are derived from twitching of frogs' legs (especially if the frogs are decapitated) and that, on the other hand, any doctrine chiefly vouched for by the feelings of human beings (with heads on their shoulders) must be benighted and superstitious.
The man who knows governments most completely is he who troubles himself least about a definition which shall give their essence. Enjoying an intimate acquaintance with all their particularities in turn, he would naturally regard an abstract conception in which these were unified as a thing more misleading than enlightening.
All the higher, more penetrating ideals are revolutionary. They present themselves far less in the guise of effects of past experience than in that of probable causes of future experience, factors to which the environment and the lessons it has so far taught us must learn to bend.
The lunatic's visions of horror are all drawn from the material of daily fact. Our civilization is founded on the shambles, and every individual existence goes out in a lonely spasm of helpless agony.
It is astonishing how many mental operations we can explain when we have once grasped the principles of association
As there is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it, so reasonable arguments, challenges to magnanimity, and appeals to sympathy or justice, are folly when we are dealing with human crocodiles and boa-constrictors.
Lack of time is actually lack of priorities.
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there aren't enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress.
There is but one coward on earth, and that is the coward that dare not know.
I remember World War II when there were very few books, very little paper available. For me to walk into a shop or look at a list and see anything that I want, or almost anything, is like a kind of miracle.
It is better to hide ignorance, but it is hard to do this when we relax over wine.
Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.
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