Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration
Genius is ‘extraordinary imaginative, creative or inventive capacity.’ Now the question arises whether it is instinctive or inculcated, or in other words, whether genius is born or made. It is the contention of Mr Thomas A Edison, the author of the quotation in question, that to almost all extent the equality of genius can be inculcated and developed or that genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. That genius is ninety-nine per cent perspiration signifies that primarily genius is the outcome of unceasing hard labour, patience and perseverance and not the result of God’s favour. We grumbling against his fate and saying that whereas an arbitrary God endowed his friend with genius—an extraordinary intelligence, he was given only a small amount of intelligence. Such a student need not despair and the sooner he realizes that he himself is the maker of his intelligence, the better it is for him. Longfellow also says the same thing when he observes, “Genius is infinite painstaking.” Buffon defines genius as a ‘superior attitude of patience.’ Hard work can really do miracles and is certainly capable of converting an ordinary brain into an extraordinary brain. Even the God-given intelligence will diminish and finally may wither away if it is not regularly applied or used. So it is the application of the mind that counts—sustained application and perseverance of mind. With industry, you can learn more and master more details. And this learning of mastering is sure to sharpen the mind. Many may like to disagree with Edison. They think that genius is purely innate and cannot be learnt. For example, Dryden says: “Genius must be born; it can never be taught.”I, for one, won’t like to be an extremist. To me it so seems that genius is partly born and partly made-to which extent born and to which extent made, that is hard to decide and one cannot be dogmatic in this case.
