NATURE

the

OF

GENIUS

THE

By
GEMANT,

ANDREW

Detroit,

M.D.

Ph.D.,

Michigan

CHARLES

Springfield

"

THOMAS

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"

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U.S.A.

THOMAS

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true

TO
MY
WIFE

PREFACE

This

book

various
a

work

There

of

the

this

work

is the

been

in

puzzle

the

past
it

Nevertheless,

than

place
who

one

the

created

have

the

aspects
and

give

The

be

us

as

relation

the

While

be

possible,
the

is

enough

not

and

problem

for

the

the

In

pose
pur-

second
the

men

it is

place

fields

of

ogy,
psychol-

that

sciences

appear

the

developed

that

first the

in

book

of

man

discussed, and
correlations

the

this

vii

the

study

was

to

nature.

society,
the

1.

will

be
and
of

work

made
and

man

sirable,
de-

Chapter

genius
to

be

this

in

place

will

attempts
between

of

second

varied

always

of

detail

book

presented,

as

not

itself,in its relation

species. In

purpose

results,

the

on

while

in

be

in

scientific

considerations

advantageous
will

make

to

which,

stamp,

briefly

primary

not

the

third

the

other

does

about

the

have

problem.

genius

science.

in

inevitably color

study

human

the

the

using

from

some

thoughts

phenomenon

will

and

individual

here
a

to

genius

wherever

all this

this

And

question.
information

considered

mention

discussed,
in

of

the

approach

and

It is

problem.

own

an

of

manner,

art

originator

There

genius.

biographical information

in

the

on

of

the

or

excellence.

with

to

way

works

of

problem

them

plan

empirical

available

that

the

may

an

it in

various

genius. My
of

other

its

me.

the

science

at

of

eye

the

such

concerned

no

biochemistry

It is realized

Let

today

use

bearing

said

works

utilize

to

medicine,

on

that

make

can

possible

to

be

is

all the

creation, of

human

the

that is,how
of

look

to

standpoint

mind,

fascinated

always
studies

by illuminating
first of

has

the

the

to

anything

various

can

There

exist.

yet

of

offer

to

possible

the

in

interest

It is

only from

produce

that

aspect

science.

as

besides, and

aspect,
to

continued

my

fields

it has

able

was

well

as

these

what

is another

second

It

art

in

merits:

objective

of

outcome

of

branches

particular

ear.

the

is

to

his

satisfy my

find,
work.
own

viii

Preface

it is hoped that it may

curiosity,
The

serve

objectivepurpose

an

as

well.

larly
problem of genius is of general importance, and readers, simi-

attracted
if the

Even

by it,might find interest

general problem

the reader, there

are

of

be

might

of scientific and

might

deductions

our

And

by

and

works

great

it

of

been

To

think

and

but it is

never

interest

in

of lack

of suitable methods,

The

them,

if

even

of

concept

will be found.

science

two

truly great among

activity are excluded
it rather

oppose

Of

course,

used

as

this

in

with

meet

act

as

stimulus.

far ahead,

too

today.
be

study, will
to

found

designate only

second, several fields of

and

men,

research

even

project,because

First,it is used

ways.

altogetherfrom

not

and

and stimulate
possibilities

feasible

not

creative

the

might

is

think

to

of such

execution

an

genius,

severely restricted in

restrictions

these

earlyto point out

too

is

along these lines

canny
un-

of that power

roots

of further study and

possibilities
interspersed.
Perhaps those remarks might
of research

of the

feasible,illustrations of

was

art

appreciation

consideration

suggestions about
have

volved
in-

places of this discussion, remarks

various

finally,at

geniuses in everyday

to

of the many

Wherever

helpful too.

prove

particularlyinterest

not

understanding and

artistic achievements
creators

discussion.

clarification of the concepts

the

help. For

of their

power

should

references

many

articles that

and

life,in books

so

such

as

reading this

in

our

considerations.

general approval,

These

might

some

vigorously.
will

ourselves

we

have

occasionallyfrom

deviate

to

lesser men
will be considered, mainly
self-imposedrestriction;
will be
of the scarcityof the truly great. This matter
because

this

explained in greater detail

One
nature

reason

of the

it would

for

in

genius. If the
would

on

gifted persons

to

throw

some

is

the purpose

light upon

those

this earth, the

2.

used

that of
own

in

wider

sense,

highly giftedpersons.
project.To

of this essay.

exceptional and

appeared, and

puzzling phenomenon

clarifythe

to

purpose

were

defeatingour

be
not

with

1 and

our

concept

mysterious individuals that have

on

is

this restriction

practicallycoincide

This, however,

Chapters

of the

Our
in

very
true

discourse
purpose

many

is

ways

rarely only,
genius.

CONTENTS
Page
vii

Preface

I.

PROBLEM

THE

OF

THE

GENIUS

Chapter
1.

Basic

2.

Limits

II.

of

Questions
of the

the

of

Concept

of

Problem

3.

Quasi-external

4.

Unselfishness

5.

Desire

6.

Invention

7.

Mastery

8.

Universality

9.

Depth

Genius

10

OF

CHARACTERISTICS

ESSENTIAL

Genius

THE

Compulsion

GENIUS

17
21

for

Survival

25
29

Craft

of

of

of

36

Mind

44

Perception

48

10.

Memory

52

11.

Perseverance

$6

12.

Prolificness

61

III.

SOCIAL

AND

PERSONAL

OF

CHARACTERISTICS

GENIUS

THE

Traits

67

Interests

72

13.

Character

14.

Outside

15.

Relation

16.

Diluted

17.

Genius

18.

Sex

19.

Age

92

20.

Illness

98

21.

Insanity

to

Society

Concept
as

of

75
Genius

79

Employe

82

Life

85

103

ix

The

Nature

GENIUS

IV.

the

of

AND

Genius

HUMAN

SPECIES

Chapter

Page
Genius

22.

Woman

23.

Apparent

24.

Genius

25.

Pseudogenius

Ill

Prodigy

Child

Variety

Future

as

116

122

127

WORKS

V.

OF

Appeal

GENIUS

26.

International

27.

Survival

28.

Originality

149

29.

Humor

155

30.

Sincerity

161

31.

Power

166

32.

Complexity

171

33.

Mirror

34.

Sex

in

of
in

the

the

Future

174
Genius

VI.

35.

Picture

36.

The

Index

of
Distant

the

143

Times

of

Works

137

Genius
Future

178

CONCLUSIONS

187
194

199

THE

NATURE
OF

THE
GENIUS

THE

PROBLEM

OF

THE

GENIUS

BASIC

This
it is

treatise

In

speaking,
such

thing

This

does

has

as

its

without

the

shall

We
deal

our

statements

Let

it

called

and

it

sociology;
who,

world

than

The

answer

to

to

the

group

much

as

question

the
is

the

more

more

the

who

factual

knowledge

difficult

of the

two.

is

values

than

This
does

it and

the

biology,

to

more

person

psychology

small

very

in

way

first the

of

group

the

From
human

of

works

aspect

the

to.

require
them.

of

be

cannot

definition

very

alluded

group,

analysis of

others.

freedom,

by strengthening

genius,

the

created

the
and

of

fields in which

many

concerns

philosophy, religion

of

the

he

freedom,

values

together.

because

of

tradicted
con-

or

that

concerns

one

ments
state-

available.

contributed

taken

is

nature

product

of
it

have

abuse

see

certain

question, what
This

make

can

desires.

so

whenever
as

subject

checked

feasible

as

is

with

rest

individuals

one

hence,

the

is, in fact,

bit of

to

not

question

problem
do

to

all the

the

on

the

constituting

has

alone.

person

hinges

the

nevertheless,

our

if he

briefly

The

he

time;

quite

enjoys

material,

problem

Thus

Our

strictly

are,

such

about

continually

rigorously

discussed.

be

might

arts

subjects.

genius. There

all the

wander

factual
the

the

as

there

as

writer

being

thus

as

their

group,

nevertheless,

subject

with

individuals
of

the

well

as

genius.

of

He

intriguing

as

as

about

all about

guard

danger

endeavour,

genius.

the

subject

deal

GENIUS

OF

sciences

that

to

imagination

outline

me

which

his

with

and

of

the

great

know

on

expert.

an

let

even

may

be

to

by

of

who

science

genius,

belong

not

PROBLEM

peculiar advantages.

need

not

the

know

experts

no

THE

fields

who

does

topic

with

many

experts

are

present

no

deals

complex.

there

OF

QUESTIONS

the

first, and

These

limited
of

values,

attention

our

this
creation
all arts,
matter

the

angle

as

the

is possible,

sciences,

requires

is, therefore,

the

of the Genius

Nature

The

question ought

Logically,the second

suppliesthe basis for the first.Such

it

first,since

discussed

be

to

be called

might

sequence

analyticalmethod.

the

might as well be reversed.

present discussion,the sequence
It is easier,and we
ment.
might call it the syntheticor empirical treatIn

our

will

We

of their
shall

known

geniuses,attempt

and, having gained

qualities,
is artificialin

this sequence
best.

let

Hence,

us

some

the

might appropriatelycall him, and let us next

genius,as we might call the creative product

we

of

This
to

attempt

hard

complex

definition in

nutshell,neither would

is often

This

value.

full of

visualize and

to

creature.

the

with

case

It is then

less

or

clearlybefore

will then emerge

When

from

think

we

eyes.

enough, are
of each
basis for the

from

viewed

answer

we

gem,

possiblecombinations.

illuminate

in themselves
lesser order

for these,
to

be

of definition

Newton,

mind, which,

our

iously
cur-

They

few

may
are

who

has

two

or

this

to

to

be

these

occupy

those

angles.

independence of

and

can

present

in

do

in all

occur

one

individual,

be in evidence.

There

preciselythose that

three

good

together yield that

taken

they

all be

may

different site,each

from

that

is

facets of

various

are

all the salient characteristics. A

one

definitions:

strive

or

subject from

our

that the greatest minds

is

definition

to

not

firsttask is then

follows

missing,or only

be little doubt

at

position: all

conclusion
significant

be

to

come

located

each

different

positionsand

may

be difficult

such

Goethe

seeking. There

are

characteristic features. It appears

few

man.

emphasize this point, as it

to

amazing entitycalled genius.The

different

of the

interrelated,rather quite independent

strictly

not

I wish

the work

practicalkind

genius,whether

other.

phenomenal

to

consideration.

of essential characteristics

number

this

of

our

such

turn

all sides until it stands

concise, rather illuminate the subject from

more

genius,as

succinct

better

pose
pur-

man

exceptions;having allowed

conciseness.

lost the

have

we

our

of

It would

genius is

of

man

be of great

it will suit

ways,

nature,

of their work.

features

first about

discourse

description

insightinto their

an

essential

describing the

proceed by

While

from

start

painter or

characteristic

can

unite

writer

of

features

Basic

Questions

missing.Finally,a
with

only

This

one

contributes

the concept

to

of

beginning with

senses,

artist or

it is shallow.

as

such

of

What

the other

at

is in

matter

relativelyminor
going

am

to

the

to

word

of

is endowed

genius.

confusion

is used

in

the

extreme

in this respect

is

sense

gamut

wide

as

of nomenclature, and

realityone

importance, since

state

with

variety of

quiterestricted,passingthrough

one

This

little

who

one

attributes

genius.The

of different widths, until

as

not

Genius

of

scientist is

of the necessary

two

or

situation

regard

minor

the Froblem

of

names

is to

certain

arbitrary.

are

degree

also

arbitrary.
order

In

keep

to

restrict the

clear and

matters

designationgenius

themselves

all

those

to

all of the

nearly

or

free

of

confusion, let

individuals

essential

definition of the term,

few
refer

characteristics should

them

to

genius.Those

who

have

we

exhibit

be

tical
prac-

only

in

to

tively
rela-

designated as such;

genial in the

genial persons,

as

be

not

that unite

characteristics

specifiedin the followingdiscussion. Here, then,

us

let's

related

sense:

to

genius.
Let

in reference
digressbriefly

me

of
essentially
of

usage

prostitutionof

to

lower

concepts.

of

values.

thoughts

of
friend, originally
to

refer

suffered the
supreme

to

same

creative

from

good example is the

exalted

an

any

casual

fate.

child

diluted

expressionsof their

underlyingelevated

true

concept

who

usage

with

is the

is

connexions

meaning,
minds

great

by

not

it

only

now

genius

no

particularlygood

is proper;

and

of the word

word

applied, and

human

and

vitamins'

use

describe

meaning, but
of

word

appliedin

acquaintance. The
to

ally
origin-

be called

may

and intimate

it is often

power,

their

truths in science

Originally used

the

philosophy.
signifyinga complex

one,

example

While

names.

widening

procedure which

restricted,warm

I don't think such

the

by

apt

often hears the word

to
designatea
facetiously,

certain

vein. Another

same

of

matter

philosophy of supplementing food

others in the

used

are

the ultimate

on

Against this,one

'the

this

certain concepts

one,

is

originalmeaning

system

like

pull down

to

high level
The

we
significance,

little

word

to

has
of

means
at

does

ing.
spellit rob

actuallydegrades

loftycharacter, tacitlyintimat-

The

ing that the

concept

and elevated

rare

Returning
the

to

merely form
series possess

endpoints of

two

and

even

"

not

all as

at

geniusand genialman,
By

They

means!

no

genial characteristics;

and

is irrelevant

of the

middle

in the

Many

of essential

them

count

we

is

genius

true

the transition between

series;

vague.

limited number

class

which

to

the

case

strictlydemarcated.

not

are

Genius

differentiation between

is continuous

them

the

of

believed.

our

the

in this

"

as

classes

two

Nature

matter

of

will doubt

the

partly a

personaltaste.
Let

illustrate this

me

genius of

Keats:

to
susceptible

genius

or

discourse
if for

little of his

knows

one

fascination

of immediate
reaction

to

his
personality,

Chaucer

is not

other

quote

In

few

last

my

further,

step

one

words

examples it

not

was

same

try

to

manner

as

describe

we

used

establish the salient features of

great

is

there
Theoretically,

and

work,
cannot

that

sufficient that the

genius is bound
will

be

expect

correlation

conditions

one

In order

manner.

Donne

with

of

fine

genius.
in

matter:

criterion. In

shall

we

ephemeral products

meteor.

will

We

find

exacting.

task

and his work,

truly

istics
work, the character-

of

it from the thousands

distinguish
accomplishments having the life of a

this second

as

the

interesting

the features of the man,

that

and

and

aspect, the work

possibleto avoid that
was

further

our

John

we

judging the three poets, their work

the

he is called

the second

about

differen
in-

of his caliber,

more

might mention
whose
strike the reader as genial,
noteworthy
poems
He
is an
but not
example of the genialman
more.
achievement, but he could not be called a genius.
Now

ing:
overwhelm-

as

scarcityof

of the

because

than

reason

reader

any

pleasure,partlywith

opportunityto

shall have

Going

great.

on

belongs to the transition group; whether

of personal opinion; in
is a matter
not

we

no

example. Nobody

an

quietly,partlywith

him

reads
He

if

even

the power
poetry. The

writings have

one

by

work
creator

between

the other in
of

the

of

man

genius

and sufficient

necessary

genius be produced,it is necessary

of
be a genius.Similarly,a man

produce a great work. Since the

after
described independently, one
to

the causal correlation

to

become

two,

the

evident

man

other,

and
we

throughout.

LIMITS

"

thus

OF

CONCEPT

THE

restricted

the

highest qualification and

thus

Having

before
This

refers

The

the

to

imaginable

field. This

statements

will

be

at

this

of

much

the

such

as

of

which

whose

picture

of

of

geniuses.

As

be

usage,

holds
men,

of

true

for

essential

the

are

these

these

however

features

because

be

gradually
sufficient

coming
forth-

here

to

as

of

that

of

great

and

men

are

well.

We

great

in

certain

of

the

truly

the

form

the

value

in

actions

fall

this group

Into

great

that

said

in these

men

itary
mil-

genius

found

missing

called

In

shall

be

all
veloped,
de-

statesman

later

"

unite

must

that

characteristics
pages.

groups

earlier, be

defined

as

following
be

record

concrete

down

laid

is

this

By

or

shall

we

on,

quite automatically. Another

large factories

many

them

possible

action.

series

term,

man,

will

this conclusion

of

founders

every
certain

politicians,secondly the

and

we

the

in

of these

'genius of action'

in

prove

of

consequences.

the

great

or

believe

recalled,

one,

to

their

of

sense

by

politician some

action

an

We

of

one

restriction.

to

be

It will

consist

not

diplomats

characteristics

led

of

renown.

may

sary,
neces-

be

will

phrase, genius
does

by

strict

in the

not

philosophical system

all statesmen,

cannot

be

or

is measured

leaders

the

work

rather

but

book,

first of

the

hears

one

man

this treatise.

now

ideas.

our

Sometimes
meant

of

only the

chapter

attempt

proof

of

arise

may

In this

an

would

for

needed

course

briefly outline

correction.

juncture. This

it is

geniuses

without

yet

men

active.

are

is that

needs

made,

material

the

in

view

to

still another

apply

men

view

genius

occurrence,

to

fields in which

generally accepted

thoroughly

rarest

further,

proceeding

of

concept

of

GENIUS

OF

of

group

financiers, the multimillionaires, the

corporations. According
geniuses.
shall

see

limited
great.

10

In

Yet
as

we

the

to

objection

same

proceed

aspects,

fairness,

lack
we

general

some

are

that

these
of

the

forced

to

conclude

that, as

Michelangelo
It is
a

statesman

that

this is

Napoleon, and, since

decision in such

from

but

some,

brought

cases

severe

be

must

we

not

into the difficult

the
discipline,

mathematical

cases, such

also borderline

are

personalinclination.
with objection
restrictions will meet
if some
clarityis to be
consequent,

be left

may

that such

I realize

Even
always possible.
Aurelius, although an emperor,

exceptions are

genius: Marcus
philosopher.There

be

can

also

equals of Shakespeare,

the

not

are

11

Newton.

or

be understood

to

was
as

rule, they

of Genius

of the Concept

Limits

problem

to

is,after all,our

hand, which

on

purpose.

Having

in which
that results in

concrete

products

to

not

noted

understood

early age,

Austrian

went

so

far

scientists. A

among

read. There

or

sciences,and

the

to

as

mains
the do-

encounter

some

we

that there

the greatest,

scientist,
even

three

are

ficultie
dif-

further

Weininger, who,

writer, Otto
maintain

activity

philosophical
because

suicide

contemporaries, committed

his

by

heard

be seen,

can

we

elusive

Here
systems, including religions.

The

left in which

then

are

subjects?These are
creative activityis possible,an
our

arts, the

of the

fields,those

such

after

look

confidence

with

fields

far, what

so

gone

be

can

no

according

at

an

genius
to

him,

cated
demara clever
explorerof strictly
highly talented specialist,
reach the loftyheights
problems, who, however, could never
dwell
the trulygreat minds.
where
ophers
Only great artists and philos-

was

claim

could

being.
Following

personalfeeling,let us
thesis,although there

my

along with this

reasoning that makes
A
justified.

the level of the average

place above

us

scientific

intuition,I

say,
is

human

cannot

particularpoint of

one

whether

wonder

discovery

go

this restricted usage

is always in the air before

isn't
it is

by all the research that has gone before.

of
It is a matter
The
actual making of the discoveryis a necessity.
scientist within
a
period of ten or twenty
chance, as to which
made, it is conditioned

years

If Einstein
another
much

it. If

hits upon
had

great

not

not

by

stated the

theoretical

later. The

one,

progress

mind

it is bound

be made

to

equivalence of
would

of science

have

might

by another.
and

mass

enounced

it

held

by

be

up

energy,
not

too

twenty

The

12

so, but

or

years

science:

Nature

of

longer.The

not

the

Genius

holds

same

Faraday's discovery of

for

true

experimental

electromagneticinduction

or

Rutherford's

bound
to
discovery of atomic transmutation
were
those particular
have definitive proofs that
periods.We
examples of dual discoveries: those made by two
by many

at

come

this is so
persons

within

almost

simultaneouslyby

close interval of time. Disinfection

first observed

Semmelweis

such; shortly later Roentgen

as
are

many

by

virtue

Lister.

and

by Crookes, although he

introduced

was

were

recognize them
the actual discovery.There

made

did

X-rays

not

such

examples. They show that the great scientist,

of his instinct,follows the right track, and, with a little

more

luck, hits upon

that but for

thin

theoretical

whether

matters,

layer of

servatio
calling for ob-

or

soil have

been

unearthed

by

wonder

might
predecessors. Realizing this situation, one
whether
the great scientist is truly the exceptionalmind
associated

his

with

of

concept

our

is also time-conditioned,

work

the result of creative

is

not

write

not

work

of any

one

own
one

and

times. At
man

only, but

the

for the achievement?

scientific

the artistis
had

there

be written

never

difference

one
any-

had

very

few

exceptions,

If the artistic

products

considered

pieces,
master-

callingtheir creator
in
scientific achievement, particularly
in

logicalerror

more

the

people

were

mostly the

complexityof

involved
in

one

we

call both

output

the

project.A

or, as

the

our

of

problems

often necessitate

then, is the genius whom

Should

not

scientists

artists and

With
man.

poet

Commedia.

between

only one

can

by

If Dante

creator.

the Divina

of the apparatus

Who,

beauty

scientific problem. Thus, if

today, when

or

of

be alike,whereas

it will

it

statement

matters

concerns

periodsthey, too,

not

magnitude
cooperationof two
discovery is made.

no
a

earlier

Klee, for instance, are

is

with

It

this connection.

Paul

there
so

have

never

man,

then

genius.Not

to

is the result of

art

Such
great artist or philosopher.
doubt, yet it is to a large extent

can

poems

only

sense

pertinentin

of

wrong.

two

another

is yet

There
is

or

answer

would

existed,we

no

particularpoem,

else. In this

which

true

correct

imagination.Unlike

values. No

only one

does

of

matter

human

and
be

of

this the work

with

Contrast

genius.

the

significant

we

may

thank

case

may

be, all

Limits

three

of

presence

several

rather

seems

fact
effected

by

sciences

is

due

also

of

of

four

controlled

Where

artists

and

of

the

phenomenon

an

assumption;

that
The

the

they

apply

will

of

spite

scientists,

chief

in

truth

in

foregoing
they

will

an

proof
features

without

prove

of

media,

of

would

be

will

of

meant

were

help

in

the

from

as

This,
the

part

have

discussions

When

the

to

pression
im-

consideration

far, is only

so

we

chapters.
will

scientist.
a

of

between

following

of

the

greater.

established,
great

of

number

still
I

workers.
co-

erated
gen-

result

differences

in

are

to

be

stated?

erroneous.

genius

other

the

day,

latter

the

was

Frank.

and

some

supplied

be

the

Tamm

the

servation
non-con-

radiation,

was

fundamental

constraint

remarks

fundamental

controversy

these

the

besides

Wu,

probability

exclusion

genius
the

the

all

is

The

significance,

and

Yang
and

in

of

this

numerous.

principle,

far-reaching

achieved

is

rather

are

Cerenkov,

fusion

the

that,

When

Vavilov,

men:

are

field

although

years,

deniable
un-

an

days
the

in

ficult
dif-

work.

refractive

in

particles

often

these

prize

physical

new

place

it is

Yet

the

rare,

same

it is

great.

Nobel

is

the

and

discoveries

recent

Lee,
of

contributors
is

of

species

genius,

true

really

the

principle
among

nuclear

significant

of

13

time

discoveries

discovery

fast

the

independent

ago

cooperation

that

the

in

split

years
a

is

is

Genius

same

one

result,

team

parity,

The

work

such

the

of

significant

As

few

of

by

them

simultaneous,

of

of

occasionally

to

discovery

only

many

teams.

Instances

result

that

fact

at

If

which

Concept

the

them

of

unlikely.

decide

to

of

view

In

geniuses?

the

of

basic
follow.

tion;
introduc-

find

II

ESSENTIAL

CHARACTERISTICS

OF

GENIUS

THE

The

18

devils. I

no

of

At

one.

with

such

notions

vague

genius seems

the

rather

by

to

and

act

result of

be

whether
them.

of

create,

his action

justlyor
This

than

the

at

ago

'I

Worms,
I

compulsion

say he

will
even

far

as

go

he

his

to

human

the

and

as

hates

did

alluded

to

used

to

mean

average

ordinary

to

of

human

extreme

promise
com-

he

case

apologize,or
have been temporarily out

must

does

heed

not

free

not

does

And

mind

to

it,perhaps

according

act

not

seem

this observation

is

the external

he

the uproar

Perhaps he does

through whom

finds its mode

account

to

else will

it,or

judgment. He

observer.

of the

illustration
called

the

his statements,

contrast,

purely human

the

before

words

offend,in the

withdraw

hint that he

an

motivate

be outlawed, but he is

to

the

to

genius is a medium

The

not

them

put

in mind

keep

ordinary man,

and
justify

to

inapplicableto
to

His

otherwise,' is
An

is

applied,

be

may

will evaporate.

Luther.

public condemnation.

likingor
to

no

genius,in

The

of his mind.
caused

do

other mortals.

seems

if you

but

man,

be the

to

seem

with

of mankind,

spoke of Martin
can

not

case

the paradox
thesis,

entirelyand

retract

is the

rest

talkingabout.

am

He

free will,which

pictorially

entirelyon his own,

is under
compulsion

act

paradoxical,since it

average

for his deed, will try

and

of

be taken

does

creation
as

the

to

not,

of the

moment

Diet

and

notion

sound

may

pictorialnature
A

gether
dispense alto-

to

nature.

deliberate motivation

lower

peg

his

genius does not

force.
quasi-external

might say that the

One

by the devil,must

obsessed

prime feature of

virtue

able

of

more

today they are useful in expressingour

psychological phenomena. Thus the phrase, a

then, that

It appears,

shall be

know

we

lieu

concepts,

on

to

convey

Genius

later time, when

biochemistry of the brain, we

the

to

the

of

in
using this terminologyquasi metaphorically

am

scientific

more

Nature

force

be

to

correct.

ly
previous-

that
expression;no wonder
logic and sentiments, sees

an

server,
ob-

in the

something abnormal, inhuman.

man

know

whether

character

seems

I don't

of
let

to

genius.Having described
me

say

about it. Here

few

words

me

obviously I

the

it from

about
have

most

the

the way
to

this

myself clearly,but

I express

make

all features

pertinent of
standpointof
the
full

man
use

an

himself
of my

pulsory
com-

observer,

might feel

imagination.

Quasi-External Compulsion

My

vivid

moderately

imagination

finds

19

in

support

some

my

medical

a foreign
experience.I am thinkingof a wounded
person,
body lodging under his epidermis.A complicated series of processes
is
or
begins,depending on whether the body carries microbes
sterile. In either instance the process
is highly irritative and painful
the victim. He has the strong feelingthat there is some
traneous
exto
which
by right does not belong there,
body in his own

which, therefore,must

and

within

his power

is accomplished,the

Perhaps

better

since in this
is not

to

pain,and does everything

the separation.
Finally,the feat
in the pangs

woman

bullet

about

or

this

sliver. Modern

of childbirth,

female

companion,

surplus,and

as

illhumored

and

is

vividly
an

this

deal
or-

picture

who, for lack of

man

freed

not

to

counterpart

operating
co-

of his natural,physiological

result,suffers substanial mental

usually

women

student, what

medical

prospectivemother.

is the irritated,
excited

foreign body,

painfulprocedure, but

experiencesas

my

the

to

is in

is out.

analogy is a

much

from

it was

He

the fetus,although anatomically a

case

too

remember

promote

body

quite as foreign as

don't know

out.

come

and

bodily

discomfort.
A

genius,working
agonies.He
The

work,

is

one

on

of his creations,must

ilar
experience sim-

sufferer,primarilymentally,but

also

ly.
physical-

body, labors in him and will out. He

is perfectlyaware
sick or
that he must
produce it, or become
but very
mentally deranged. His sufferingis not merely pictorial,
real. He
has, no doubt, his particularpleasureduring the process
of birth,which, however, does not
detract from his pains;the two
istic:
feelingsexist simultaneously.This duality is charactercontrary
extraneous

an

he feels elated
so

much

pain. It

about

to

vent

to

effort

his

express

the sounds

and

be

of the

the

right forms

and
most

that

seem

innermost

at

that

causes

the

to

him

feelingsa
wanders

moments

his ideas that boil in his

and

extract

the

work

similar

genius

visions,trying to

melodies

his sacred

must

produce

trying to formulate

mind, trying to think

which

to

be, in fact, very

must

around

tosses

or

able

during childbirth. The

has

woman

be

to

most

emotions.

colors
from

by
sheer

means

of

nothing

appropriate to

give

Particularlythis

last

superhuman of all because

the

melody, in

The

20

contrast

the idea and

to

of empty

Nature

and

space,

is

the

of

Genius

from
literally

vision, comes

clearlythe

most

nowhere,

out

the least human

extraneous,

of all creations.
Lest

give

might be accused

few

examples.

of

Anton

Bruckner,

his last,the ninth

symphony

his life.This

is his

therefore

work

in this last

the

him

to

after

with.

cope

ten

him

without
have

his control, he

had

remain

We
and
with

had

and

to

he

what

years

later. Not

him

as

saw

as

Finally,let
what

it was,

in his

the

when

not

was

if not,

of it, or,

it

us

he

look
was

remained

not

was

but

using
at

hard

that had

It

next.

himself

body

Goethe

and

until

1905

tough

knew

for

the
an

struggleto
his death fifty
external force

effect

to

complete

suffering that the

ingresscaused

his Faust.

his mind

that such

partialvictory over

enough

knew

lain hidden,

it. His

reach

to

for another
when

fight

showing

was

convinced

was

strong

forty.He

his

was

comprising electromagnetism

his frail

dark

It

completely finish it.The

not

ing
gesticulat-

unborn:

yet

as

Bruckner, he achieved

eighty-secondyear,

treasure

second

completion.

in the woods,

lasted from

vision

could

medium

of the force

written

of

sake

hold

in the

basis. He

tried very

breakthrough. Nobody
urge

in vain,

"

finish it. Any

to

press
ex-

ejectincomprehensiblesounds.

system

unified

unlike
he

the unknown,

using

effort

an

to

his power
great for

too

of his mind.

out

and

arms

build

to

existed, and

grasp

if

as

tearingit away

his

wave

gravitationon

system

take

holding his creation

and

wanted

Einstein

wanted

was

it,justfor

finished

himself

to

minute

fight:he

being able

ment.
closingmove-

between

distance

in darkness

either could

teasing demon
one

he

of

ones

finale,and

the

as

of what

Beethoven, erring about

muttering

it to him

Deum

on

unfinished.

about

read

last

different,completion of the symphony

was

within
to

the

years,

again he made

and

Again

would

it

the

but

lay concealed

he died

years

class composer
With

his Te

clear visions

symphony,

which

work

ten

to

told, worked

are

we

masterpiece,although without

had

have

must

so

for about

performed mostly with

He

and

being fantastic,I shall endeaver

The

had

that he

forty years.
was

fermenting,

mature
to

come

him.

first part
to

more

He

was

say;

finished it

enough for
to

life.

UNSELFISHNESS

the

In

preceding

stressed.

At

chapter
the

present,

is apparent

be

chemical
the

methods,

he

genius

future

and

be

must

and

acts

of

such

be

was

pulsion
com-

only; it

is

to

and

by physical

analyzed

specific compounds

to

genius

quasi-external

observation

pure

it will

reduced

unselfish, the

in

striking manner.

his best

word

inhuman

in

present

God

will

right

This

in order

to

his actions

must

be

must

into

It would

one.

create,

he

so

or

of

self
your-

this elementary

highly

to

purely personal
guiding

motive

maintain

that

He

must

live

his livelihood.

But

to

interest.

often

diametricallyopposed

even

ceptional.
ex-

genius

true

if his

own

care

of

care

after

least

the

exaggeration

an

look

his

background

take

must

in

otherwise:

against his

naive, childish,

are

the

taking

at

emphasized

disregards
or

appears

be

be

is

genius does

abnormal

cannot

driven

says,

who

person

feature

for

blamed

that

when

and

is

genius

proverb

appear

It

degree.

external

everything

you.

exceptional

pronounced

well-being

protect

the

be

the

used,

was

of

can

person

it follows

compulsion,

inhuman

behavior

No

human

an

The

personal interests;even

and

virtual

by

creates

unselfish.

say,

is

basis

of

in

brain.

If

the

element

impersonal

existence

the

on

in

that

hoped

the

to

his

interests.
More

precisely,he
the

power,

be
a

two

is it
he

reasonably

luxurious

salient

point

well-to-do

is that

in human

treasures

genius

If

case.

is

proverbially

he
he

might
not

be

the

covet

21

is

is

his

da
son

not

of

wealth;

associated

with

the

main
in

point,
his

time,
life-

making

him

actually

loved

wealthy
if he

or

may

work,

Vinci

wealth

life. There

appreciated

for

reward
Leonardo

man.

does

genius

sufficient

obtain

life. Or

attaining either

on

goods. This, however,

the

always

might

course.

scarcity of worldly

neither

bent

not

coveted

most

exceptions, of

is

father.

happens

to

The
have

22

The

he often

some,

house

with

the money

by

was

no

orchards

has

that

means

him

power

over

power

are

genius with

from

toward

without

Maecenas

but he led

he

specific

he received

simple life,
as

is

above

contentment

which

power,

genius will

of it in

use

modest, and

him

to

and
praisingsimplicity

irresistibleattraction. A

giving

makes
are

came

poor,

strikingis his indifference

an

Genius

demands

in the country,

reflected in his poems,

other worldly goods.
More

His

manner.

need

not

effort. Horace

the

of

squanders it,and scarcelyever

practical,businesslike
usuallydoes

Nature

for many

strive for

position
others. Accidental
instances providing a
far more
exceptionalthan similar instances
not

in the field of wealth.

The
both

aims, wealth

two

As
egoistic.

said

bestow

upon

As

pointed

could

whole,

force

mankind

genius

that drives

aim

Whatever

interest. The

own

fact remains

valid in any case:

intention,is a benefactor

deliberate

to

they are

which

as

mentally
fundaa

is

ing.
lack-

victim. He

the force is driving

to

benefit mankind

whom

the force is

the

means

then it was

sense

through
conception of this force

detailed

our

him

uses

up

is

particularman

in that

primarilyand

him

before, the genius in

out

in his
not

is

which

treasure

toward

the

similar

are

be called that if the aims

not

were

power,

before, the

unselfish. The
to

and

may

as

acting.

mental
be, the funda-

genius,without his
of mankind, acting free of
true

egoisticmotives.
because

Emerson,
the ways

of the

of his

outspokenness and his

clergy in his time, suffered

many

condemnation

of

adversities. For

objectingto the ritual of the Communion, he was forced to resign

his positionas pastor. It would
have been easy for him to give in,
and most
people would have done so in order not to lose
average
their positions.
Yet such consideration was
of secondaryimportance
him
because
the purpose
of his life:
to
not
personal benefit was
he wanted

to

serve

mankind,

service

by adhering to those principleswhich

dictated.
added
not

many

Recalling the

that

to

statement

be consequent

and

in itself a sufficient criterion

more

conditions

to

be

met.

which

he could

his conscientious

made

in

Chapter 1,
unrelenting,or even
a
for

man

to

fulfillonly

thinking
it may
martyr,

be great. There

be
is
are

Unselfishness
Mozart

by

admired

was

contemporaries,but

of his

some

he been

popular. Had

means

no

by

popular, he

would

him

the

today. People often reproached

level of his

high

music, particularlyhis

incomprehensible to the
need

of money
further

force

in his

he

it

he

was

who

words, he

Paradoxicallyas

it

Knowing

would

to

his

that

certain

mean

of the

one

mission, in

fulfill his
need

No
are

would

to

and

many,

raised. It

financiers

and
The
such

proof of this statement

a
proof is furnished by
in due

spend

much

convinced

We

have

compulsion
the

It is

what

am

said that

benefit

be

might

one

is

Jesus'sact
in order

to

others

to
a

now

again

that

appears

will

the

ciple
princoming
forth-

be

it unnecessary
will

be

far

to

from

say.

genius is always

as

find

in mind.

have

we

applicationof

might

ject
sub-

militaryleaders,

statesmen,

It

deserves

present

our

only proof, others

to

him

which

matter

the great

point; there

the circle of his

the limits of

that

readers

going

of mankind

take

to

one

the

within

some

consequent

the

not

drives

authorities

mind

great

it

keep

to

the

prove

left open.

this matter,

on

which

to

among

was

Some

course.

time

by

of

question of

be classed

cannot

confided

He

easy.

to

was

give his life.

to

that there

by

instances

suggested

was

just evolved.

to

the

teaching.It

secret

is,instead, another

knowledge. There
mention.
In Chapter 2

to

his demand.

heed

think

can

own

was

means

realized

executed

further

anyone

perhaps

fulfill the

disregard of his life.

utter

quote

that

death, he needed

to

not

consequently

most

no

betrayal of the
he

teaching

the strict demand

pupils with

task, and

pupils who

the

among

In

order

compelled

was

by

was

condemnation

of the sombre

care

him

to

prophecy

his

beginning of

prophet.

he

poor,

sounds, this

specialmission

secret.

be

to

in

external

the

identified with

sacrificed for his belief and

be

to

was

reproaches

Jesus.The

it occurred

the

by

them

made

nearly always

was

of

story

In the

this;later

meant

him

his

of

was

enough for

not

Testament.

conscious

not

was

is the

be
historically

case

mired
ad-

be

quite carelessly.

spent

strikinginstance

was

subtletyand

which

operas,

he

not

listener of his time. The

average

he

which

may
in the Old

laid down

for

him, notwithstanding he

nothing to

meant

2 3

the

whole.

motivated

and

guided by

accomplishment of
A

financier

or

matters

statesman

The

24

think

might
he

feel that

might

that

he

of

nation

It

would

is unable
as

hard

to

fragmentary

and

of

his

because

wrong

the

country,

ruler, after
wealth

vanity,

the
In

diplomatic

activities

of

those

scientists.

and

his

with

his

misdeeds

powerful
or

support.

before

Medici:

Lorenzo

to

mostly

even

of
he

activities

has

man

has

act

the

by

stress

successful
the

great

and
of

his

own

logic
army

artists

part,

and
leader

whom

one

If such

his

of

called

be

might

of

kind.
man-

personal egoism

his

it

as

were,

military and
because

financiallysupport

his

on

own

since

to

bloody

those

his

genius, only

no

mostly

pinnacle

the

call

kind.
man-

to

of

and

despair

country

no

politician and
resembling

of

to

only

not

is

for

secondary and,

possible

not

he

whole.

in his

roots

are

selfish, unholy
an

its

out
with-

of

benefactor

indirect

an

decided

support

preceding

it is

it is

those

This

best,

mankind

to

case,

any

at

activity

benefits

incidental.

result

or

beneficient

his

But

and

judgement,

at

sciences, he

and

arts

in certain

evidence,

as

always

although

benefit

nation,

in

not

military operations,

supports

is

always,

advantages

mankind

with

identified

power,

good

is still

relatively

suffering similar

with

ends

war

the

his

of

good

is

found

it is

war,

for

never

It

top

above.

mankind,
be

can

it into

undergoes

mankind

to

successful

and
of

man

if the

be

cannot

country

benefits

reasons,

the

of

from

actions

their

benefit

leads

nation

nation

own

benefit

him,

the

at

up

voice

feelings.
of

compulsion;

necessitywith

with

such

the

to

it is for

Even

enemy.

is

motive

the

never

egoistic

imagines,

of

result

estate

against

questionable

of

for

exception,
If he

often

ruler

the

compliance

that

practically

When

large

up

argue

show

to

is also

doing

is in

egoistic and

cases.

is

Genius

the

of

otherwise; that setting himself

do

dictator

be

he

building
to

however,

easy,

what

that

Nature

organic
action,

as

artists

connection
the

on

calculated
conscience.

to

trary,
con-

justify
of

Think

imagination
be

considered

he

thought

the

can

equal
wise

to

The

26

had

strivingfor

been

Nature

the

of

in vain. We

Genius

call this

might

general human

craving for endurance.

urge

This

elementary desire, found

everywhere, exists

the great called genius,although in them

it is not
as
with others. Desire to last has taken another form
as
it has become
their work

desire
will

thousands

not

will achieve

creative
The

with

of

have

as

who
are

would

such

as

ing
feel-

realistic

show

couple of

china

hundred

earth. Another

or

that

so

weapons

succeeding generations

to

of the collection. There

worthy, others naive, bordering

the

desire

same

this is transformed

to

to

or

in

death

cheat

on

some

level in the great

high

philosophical
system,

in order

of stone,

on
activity

the founder

as

is

only

not

construed

work

we

see

feelingworking

away

to

on

like Balzac

other

from

enable

him

within,
to

writes

than

the

desire for immortal

few

rest

beautiful

of

in them

aspirations.

was

able

verses,

to

plain
ex-

toil;it is a
inspiringthem,

and

efforts. It is

of

mate

true

seemingly from outside,the

Baudelaire
to
prayed to God
only

verses,

to

that he

prove

is another

form

of his

seeingthat other people

forgotten a few decades after their

hopelessly
feelingin the heart of the genius,at the same
he feels that he

to

result of their

humanity. This

life in his

order

one

in unison.

act

write

two,

hypothesisin

as

continual, arduous

force; the
quasi-external

better

but survive

sire
de-

our

interests

other

also from

precious books,

him

phenomenal

firingthem

when

if

they

manner

only by

home, made

family treasure

builds

desire

the
very

that

novels.

monumental
This

them:

immortality.This

feelingnot

life and

own

instances,some

other. All

like Kant

soon,

so

of

ridiculous;they

who

builds

of his

collection

or

was

crumble

not

way

the

who

one

remember

many

the

is

down

go

this

family perpetrated,but

document

assembles
it may

with

driving forces for their

of the

one

understand

can

our

that is shall
years

us

There

well.

as

them, and is

pronounced

They feel
by hundreds

that in this

of

among

activity.
rest

to

they realize

and

form
particular,
spiritual

creations.

die, that it might survive them

not

of years,

is strong

through their

last

to

also

achieve

at

death. It is a
time

one

were

gnawing

of elation

least part of his

soaring

Desire

There

is

genius more

by

proportion

to

be

never

course,

and

confidence
of the

one

is often

his achievements.

might recognize his

the

on

work.

of his convictions.

in

are

no

he

of

can,

his self-

Uncertainty

is

during his lifetime.

him

accompany

that

not

entirely

degree of

the

on

selfishness.
un-

in the future

said,might, because

depends

his

not

in life

places his hopes

certitude

tragediesthat often

if

underrated

compensations

He

of this. It

sure

this desire and

between

that his

others, and

27

less realizes that his life is

or

that he

man,

average

overlooked

which

Survival

intimate connection

an

The
of the

for

the crowd
stronglythat he is an outsider among
that happilyand carelessly
enjoys the dailypleasuresof life.When
this realization becomes
most
intense,he dreams of a future justice,
At times he realizes

when

he, although

recognized. Future
denied

was

One

him

by the

wonders

about

any

living,would

be

tribute

that

the

him

present.

absurdityof

the

this desire when

looked

Beethoven, although esteemed by the more

realistically.
preciative
aphis
life
in his lifetime,
lived in modest
circumstances;
desire I am
The
talking about must
plain,in fact, somber.

upon

was

have
that

been

hundred

two

into

and

great

every

what

Yet

later his music

years

that he would

comfort

desire for

immortality through creation

but since it is basicallythe
terms,

in average
the average

intuition rather
One

live

to

man

than

might be

led

that his basic motive

explanationis

not

extraordinary nature,
mentioned

Vanity

in the
is

one

on

but

one

when

every

he

the time

is hard

children,we

explainthis

to

is

nothing

same

lived,
came.

understand

to
as

the desire of
it by

understand

can

but

is human

most

of the

desire

entirelywrong.

preceding

of the

him

by reasoning.

to
hypocritical
deny it in
their biographiesthat some

mention

in his

played by

it when

nothing about

to

his desire has gone

it. And

nothing about

know

be

would

it be

could

Today, when

artist?

fulfillment,he knows

he knew
This

in his mind.

strong

orchestra

an

the

longer among
generations would
pay
not

personal vanity.Indeed, such

The
genius,in spiteof his

in

human

the great. We
were,

strikingexample,

in

This

ways.

many
chapter, and

basic

genius by saying

will

be

point

taken

later.

up

features,and it would
have

many

proofs

fact, extremely vain

Voltaire

"

although

was

be
from
"

to

it is often

The

28

that

stated

the

problematic;
without

occupies
that

with
in

that

degree

feelings

the

the
in

or

little

the

the

subconscious
of

vanity

only.
famous

the

is

chemist

is

certain

role,

important
to

present

that

repeat

vanity

It

an

it

entirely

importance

play

great
I

the

there

are

minor

tions:
excep-

bordered

Nernst

is

point

imagined

individual.

an

vanity
truly

This

frailty.
be

is

of

does

of

this

decisive

actions

people

mentality
the

is

and

of

scarcely

can

What

Genius

void

are

being

weakness.

in

only

and

human

the

of

greatest

very
a

that

Nature

on

the

humorous.
While

genius
To
in

vanity
for

humans,

enjoyed
genius

we

are

is

often

denied.

would

faced

transposed

compensation

of

one

it

endurance,

summarize,
all

be

may

to

for

be

with

the

factors

the

the

false

to

general

spiritual
worldly

regard

level,

goods

it
for

desire

providing
and

of

desire

causing

the

essential.

as

immortality
a

vaguely

pleasures

the

INVENTION

We

of

motives

the

about
do

to

heard

have

be

able

those

ability

Let
man

deserves

turn

genius.

to

be

the

first

requirement,

that

makes

Invention,
have

must

between

As

What

ideas

the

in

be

hardly

be
were

wants

the

ideas

of

does

known

way

created

be

for

he

time

he

wants

to

of

they
and

art

science

novelty

our

in

if it could,

conceiving

need

for

geniuses. Maybe

that

would

be, indeed,

some

the
source

the

revolutionary

29

must

for

the
is

be

purpose.

This

that

would

is essential.

question

will

From

not
can-

if there

would

discovery

all

not

sure,

obvious,

discovery.

stantial.
sub-

and

least

at

flight

extremely

sound
be

have

conception

clear

ture
pic-

must

permits

entirelynew;

were

create,

can

instance,

To

idea?

extent

an

detailed

ideas, there

new

day

must

respect

some

if the

and

utilize

novel.

are

obtain

man

of

be

must

to

inventiveness

qualify, they

cannot

only the

invention

The

have

must

certainly

not

he

that

machine

requirement

is more,
field

do.

inventor,

means

It is

before

to

to

construct

same

physical

answered;
a

the

at

the

yet

that

one

elementary

man,

wants

An

to

possible. Yet

Wherefrom

he

what

the

general subject

see,

Vague

severe.

of

execution.

he

can

you

and

obvious

means

to

qualifications of

necessary

inventiveness.

that

the

essential

begin with

simply,

planets;

of the

it is also

idea

that

notion

to

unnecessary.

concerning
a

the

namely

top,

later

large variety of such

to

long discussion

an

both

contain

like

I should

call,

believed.

commonly

attention

our

of

is

than

at

is

the

is strong,

call

the

sadly lacking. There

is

more

then

us

which

in

cases

able

be

to

hear

to

talk

to

opportunity

shall have

it. We

follow

to

enough

not

genius,

now

order

in

possess

obviously

in

It is time

nature.

must

man

It is

pathetic

obey

to

individuals,

the

work.

creative

discuss

inner

quasi-external and

work

of creative

mainsprings

the

requisite features

must

you

of

be
be

no

made;

that

day

The

30

know

on

genius,as

we

be

instead

new

done

Nature

it

of the Genius

today, would

exist;there

to

cease

those achievements
breed, fulfilling
few.

This

in the

sense

would

that

today

subjectwill form the topic of a later

we
chapter.For the moment
simplyaccept invention as a fact. By
nothing, of course, is gained,althoughthe word
callingit intuition,
character.
colorfullyimpliesits puzzling,spontaneous
are

by

very

Invention,

not

invention, is really the

than

more

the
is

interposehere

me

remarks

the

few

remarks

as

be

ly
scarce-

Creation

being

genius,the creative

act

of

in this entire discussion

puzzling matter

most

they will

"

of invention.

act
man

of

act

my
of the chief characteristics

one

the

about

"

that identifies

phenomenon

obviously

the

genius problem. While

of the

crux

inventiveness,as

subject is

present
of genius,let

of inventiveness, rather

ours.

is

There

the solution
of

are

of the

to

does

the

that does

medium

For, curious

the

true

activities of
the

it may

as

he is

answer,

descriptionof the process.

clear

value.

know

not

relatingto

matters

the

give

used

of great
puzzle.Certainly,autobiographies

value,but of limited

genius himself

be

available that could

information

much

not

This

brain. An

our

is

men

sound, the
in

not

is

tion
posi-

with

so

examination

actual

is

considerable

pours
In

of

out

Invention

There

some

genius

starts

no

in the

mind

analysiswould
in

out

with
least;certainly

notion

subject,sometimes

of successful

the

chology
psy-

knowledge has
better position.
He

it,he himself does

does

to

the

exact

ourselves
help: by restricting

chances

at

he

is in

by

contrast

not

least,an

at

geniuses in

to

be

conscious

clear,in the beginning often

less.

even

mind, in

also with
scientists,

concerning

know.

the average

an

is of

in the

instances
is

an

our

little

insight,the study of the way

idea provides, to a certain extent

trying to obtain

this matter,

chemistry in

genius himself

but how

treasures,

analogue. This

many

The

accumulated.

an

studies,as evidenced

our

of which

social sciences

hits upon

man

in

development of physicsand
and

been

help

nearly

all

impossibility.
When
examine
we
something,that something should be an object
handle it,turn
it over, look at it
outside of our
self,then we
can
from all sides,experiment with it.At any rate, this qualityof being
outside

examining

in

artists.

project and

vague.

Once

its
the

Invention

project has

taken

shape, it does

force

mentioned

earlier

sway.

However,

other

substantial

occupy

and

vague

will find, not

In

is

in

and

it competes

way

and

with

he

those works

often

the

man

project is lurking

the unborn

mind, whether

the

and

energy,

abeyance.Yet,

surprise,that
of his

time

it

wants

to

not.

or

being carried
This phase of the phenomenon
quite often successfully.

some

out,

work

of the man's

part

in the back

somewhere

determinedly holds its

already in full swing

tenaciously and
projects and

without

its victim; the external

leave

not

project remains

new

31

that

are

enlighteningclarityin the introductorydedication

pictured with
Faust.

to

The
the

His

genius rests.

invaded

floatingproject becomes

of the

power

mind,

is fruitful for the

with

other

into its full

in

moments

rient,when

in

than

anything better
far does

the

state

the

true

daydreaming

this condition

of

dream

freest and
between

drama, A

cupied
oc-

his friend, the

of Lutter

inventive
Dev-

actor

and

Wegner

pictorial
presentationof this

poet,

I could

recommend

not

how

far removed
It may

tell?

can

it be from

can

actuallycontinue

Imagination

in that

The

is

in

certainly

unhampered
state.
dreaming and poetic invention is depicted in Strindberg's
Flay of Dreams, whose plot,incoherent and fanciful,
yet

since

genius of

it is bound

scientific term,
would

has been

to

be

be the dream

stage

as

lastingtrack

pictured may

that of the
carry

actual

poet.

connection

One

might
is

dreaming

the
necessarily

less,
use-

case:

an

idea

in the brain.

also be formulated

subconscious,not

great

utilized in

during

of

close

in
lost;this,however, particularly

is not
impressibility,

great

process

to

out

preparatory

might leave

concept

go,

sleep.Who

most

think that such

The

not

Imagination comes

roam.

tavern

wakefulness?

highlymeaningful,turns

dreamt

the brain is

portraitpainted by Manet.

Mallarme's

of conscious

to

with

looking for

are

easier

now

experienced his best

in the

intoxicated
lightly

of creation

How

Hoffmann

conversations

if you

because

is free

and

matters

dreamy

in Berlin. And
act

of creation

act

right.E.T.A.

state, is

working

condition, commonly called daydreaming,

the force. This

by

in the

not

active when

more

as

by using a
if the

deal of factual information.

use

The

more

of the
cept
con-

experimental psychology since Freud,

The

32

Nature

of

the

Genius

few positiveresults. Thus,

however, relatively
yielding,
to

correct

in the

that the

say

mind, both

subconscious

needs

high degree

mind

with

of creation

act

of

takes

scientists. This

in artists and

does

provide that

not

ably
prob-

place essentially
act

the conscious

and detachment,
tranquillity

all its turbulence

it is

dition.
con-

necessary

existingonly in fragments, trying

more
concrete
shape, flees the unproto
develop and assume
pitioussurroundings of the conscious and takes refuge in the quiet
There
and undisturbed
are
certainly
region of the subconscious.
The

in which

cases

the very

the search

When
whether
a

the idea does

from

dwells

but

painting,whether
like

that bear
birth

no

creative

of

act, let

genius.We

works

might

in the minds

difference
is

return

us

inventiveness

two

fields

social world.

them.

This

He

does

plex
com-

of darkness,

out

prime requirement

the way
the

is

of

in

art.

The

Chapter 2;

accordinglydifferent

nature,

it

too.

those of the

whether

the laws, he discovers

create

not

inventiveness

man

expounded

was

that the scientist does

it shows

because
significant

is

and

of science

man

as

about

words

and inventiveness
quite significant,
The
scientist explores the laws of

physical or

pursuit.
of an
explanation of the

attempt

few

of the
the

between

plan for

thinking about it,perhaps

human

to

say

the

product, or

into the open,

is not

man

certain

regions.

tangibleresults,

to

motif, or

and concise

mind,

cumstance
lightning,unexpectedly, often under cirhand.
direct relation to the problem on

prosaic,very
Leaving this fragmentary

during

leads

musical

compact

the

when

occurs

in the subconscious

subconscious

scheme, it breaks
bolt of

in the conscious

start

even

beginning

in the

it be

elaborate

sometimes

The

not

specificscientific idea, a

and

and

yet born

idea, not

actuallyinvent; in fact,a scientist who invents a law of physics

is a bad one; his duty is not inventing that law but unearthing it.
in consound surprisingto talk of invention
it may
In that sense
nection
not

with

scientific creations,which,

speaking,no
strictly

creations. When

this connection, it is used

inventing a
an

way

to

discover

in

of

law

experimental approach which

inventing

use

I said

just now,

the word

slightlydifferent

we

as

nature.

sense:

It means,

are,

in

invention
it

means,

inventing

might clarifythe situation,or

hypothesis which, with

the proper

mathematical

ap-

The

34

in

for these
do

The

like Edison.

man

exist in

not

Nature

and

nature

is

sine qua

Genius

the devices

of inventiveness

It
help for inspiration.
divisions of

three main

is

occupied with

they are

of what

is known

to
interesting

tion
inspira-

as

who

her

invoked

in this respect

compare

of

the concept

is pictured by
significance

of the classical artists,

notablypoets

the Muse

is imperative

the child of their brain.

strictly

are

in the form

Its

non.

the

highestdegree

because

men

the arts, invention

In

of

the

art.

paintersand sculptorsinvention
others. Their subjectslie open
to view
a suitable landscape or
to choose
person
of
for
earlier
holds chiefly
periods art;
For

is less
for

imperativethan

for

task is

anybody; their

This remark
painting.
as we
proceed to later ones,
The
Dutch
the less valid does it become.
painters,for
genre
instance,instilled atmosphere into their interiors,
requiringa great
than
The
French
deal of inventiveness.
impressionists
give more
cluded,
feelingsand thoughts are inlandscapes or still lives,their own
again implying a good deal of invention. This tendency
becomes
Comparing Titian's
most
pronounced in the moderns.
similar
and the Lute
Venus
Flayer with Picasso's Aubade, two
of one's probable likingfor the
subjects,one can say, irrespective
indifference to the other, that the latter required
first and conceivable

is the role of invention

Landing,

satire is

or

the

or

one

than

invention

mental

more

Road

of modern

replacesbeauty often
humor)

of novels

in literature is

and

do

poems

art

as

China.
which

are, of course,

and

draw

poet

can

sluggish.
History is

under

stances
circum-

missing (see Chapter

of famous

lie

as

plainlyaround

29

outside

subjectwhen his
frequent substitute.

his
a

warriors

and

heroes

who

which

from

sources
own

Another
generations.
previous literature. This is no

outside

source

woods

as

invention

Ironic

as

during

wrought nothing but sufferingand destruction upon

lies in the fact that they provide material for writers
future

wit

Inventive

on

stringentrequirement. Subjects

more

not

flowers. There

value

found

to

striking

more

the Miraculous

Invention

the first.Even

Toadspaivn

assets

drawings, such

in Klee's

from

of the

for

it

and

writer

becomes

sounds, the

their lifetime
their
and

people

poets

is the whole

all of
plagiarism.
Practically

of

lore of
Shake-

Invention

work.

all

execution.

of

work

the

of

More

genius.

The

value

and

the

who

of

borders

of
and

whose

are

on

awed

lipid

by

molecules,

only

literary
with

dealing

V,

by

is

the

limitless

of

out

not

corresponding

in

Listening

human

brain,

demonstrably
ability

in

other
had

Schumann,

or

the

summit

very

of

aggregate

enjoying

then-

at

requiring

essence,

different
lies

life

Chopin

an

ness.
inventive-

nevertheless,

melodies,

of

are

with

compared

its

to

all

human

of

creation

wealth

of

who,

wealth

limited

composers

crown

if

problematic,

has

previous

the

musician.

the

is

composer

greatest

whole

music

in

notably

the

is

source

of
is

mystery,

inspiration.

flown

beauty,

the

transcriptions

spirit

musicians

the

and

for
for

the
in

executed

art

incomprehensible
we

imitate

Creation

disposal.

life

human

for
Part

lence
excel-

by

of

scope

in

outside

works

previous

history

nature,

for

source

found

inspiration

an

invention

truly
of

works

be

significant

no

as

who

Thus

It

has

of

use

epigoni.

entire

unlimited

will

matter

nature

Those

range.

this

the

is

ary
liter-

previous

compensated

amply

there

in

source

genius.

artist

The

is

practically

their

have

invention

Finally,

riches,

its

comedies

of

lack

of
in

and

tragedies

speare's

35

from

other
it.

protein
men's

MASTERY

We

of

talked

without
of the

mastery

is it

What

in words
It is

and

there

such

books

and

the

benefit

he

There

is

to

teach

books

on

music

good
of

'forced
would

not

that

This

single genius. No,

taught.

Even

scientists,'they

bring

to

be

light

stayed undeveloped.

to

what

we

36

make

in

that

know

by
an

of

the

concepts;

craft

advocates

educational

otherwise

or

fashion, but,

the

the

can

Faraday

of

this
of

mastery

by

people

young

confusion

for

so

scientists

produce

to

such

and

if, and

value

it is less

arts,

done, that

geniuses

dormant
From

the

produced

that

actually

talent.

if this is admitted

maintain

of

be

natural

the

similar

are

manipulations,

can

from

stems

of

master

good. They

are

certain

be

Art

such

There

art,

nothing.

to

The

Vinci,

so.

mathematics

can

put

studies

one

close

not

many

for

can

If

by

nowadays

notion

teachers

or

is

necessary

physics and

an

drawing,

on

written

information

it

be

da

This
and

tendency

believe

simply

the

be

can

only little for the

or

will

execute

the

that

that

composition.

book

art.

to

talking of

written

are

study

fairly obvious

is

engineers

be

how

seems

Some

that

arts,

when

something

Is it

Leonardo

by

other

has

of them.

course,

the

technique,

multiplication, of photography

talent

no

the

the

craft

manuals

have

to

book

on

of

musical

on

person

taught sufficient
Gauss

is

tion,
inven-

with

go

manual?

sure,

think

and

There

education.
be

this

sciences.

be

from

derives

reader

only if, the

While

To

denied

be

as

happens

instructions

cannot

down

should

ought

it

typewriter?

classical

One

must

nothing,
the

of

technique

textbooks

Painting.

give

using

that.

are

avails

mastery

the

as

written

like

not

by

same

of

and

that

faculty

invention

mean

we

that

or

The

craft.

Is it the

artist?

invention.

which

CRAFT

OF

of

system

might

life of

not
can-

have

geniuses,

Mastery of Craft

real

cannot

one

unfavorable

most

if

Even

craft

to

would

conditions

of

men

young

not

could

system

with

go

home

of

through under
schooling.

and

developed that would

impart the
than
ability,inventiveness
average

be

more

the best mastery

it. Yet

the

break

undeveloped; they

stay

37

is

enough

not

to

make

genius if inventiveness, inspirationis lacking.Many musicians

is
mastered
the craft, as their compositions show, yet their music
not
They
inspiringbecause they themselves lacked inspiration.
a

of the first order,

professionalmusicians

are

of

finds

multiple characteristics

Our

principle
important applicationin

an

not

more.

this connection.

interestingdifference

An

There

are

their

spend considerable
who
acquire it without

craft,others

remarkable

the instances

are

early
but
original,

at

who

some

an

in which

this

Sometimes

age.

it is still amazing

how

and

learning

effort

at

all. Most

work

is

produced

excellent
work

effort

and

any

early

to

as

time

is

particularly

not

cate
the intri-

wherefrom

man's
the young
mediately
them imof existingmasterpiecesshows

and

complicated technique

possession.A brief study

the technique to

be

school

rule

ever

here evident.

geniuses becomes

among

used

the

summation

having learned
and

insight.The
its fragments

from

teacher

Mime

as

comes

manner

small

boy

at

series without

of the arithmetical

tion
of intuiway
his father's
Siegfriedmolded

without
of the

unaware

was

into

come

employed. Gauss

it. Technique

direct

sword

had

them

to

by

prior instruction, since

method, is rendered

his

masterfully

by Wagner.
Other

effort. Bach

studied

his
establishing

develop their technique not without

of his time before
acknowledged masters

and

learn

masters

many

technique.Beethoven

own

composition constantly.Balzac
his
it

to

be

While

printed,as
Heine

Platen

on
laboriously

his

of the

two

output

before

and

whose

extreme

caused

ease,

output

was

was

him

and

having

sent

littletrouble.

no

he mentions,
small

proved
large im-

very

after

even

of

manner

without

not

who

worked

spiritual
offspring.

mockery
types:

whose

sign that the craft

with

wrote

derision, von

Heine's

times

writings many

his

changed

was

the

not

One
entirelyjustified.

early and

easy

or

might

the late and

ask which

hard

worker

The

38

is the greater

of

offers

and

found

be

this is true,
We

certain

established

of the
we

two

types

technique;

and

the hard

creation,anticipating
to

genius,a field that,according to

of

discussed

will be

acquiredby

their

on

the easy

men:

the

Cezanne.

and

the finished

at

the work

of

be

their type.

relation with

hard

in

of the men;

to

an

types

is present

two

it has

one,

that both

appear

direct

no

easilyto

also look

can

extent

program,

is in

of the

We

worker.

then

greatest labored
for instance, of Rembrandt

have

truth in this,

is some

of the
the great. Which
the personal temperament
on

among

Some

associate

is the less human

mystery,

facts. It will

given case, depends

quality of their creation
While
technique comes
another.

to

activityfor the puzzling compulsion

be given only by
the correct
can
answer

empiricalgatheringof
can

is inclined

more

Yet

about.

talked

Genius

working type. There

easy

since that type offers the greater

two,

the

first thought, one

On

master?

genius with the

real

Nature

our

of this essay. Let us

insofar as technical execution

the end

toward

the work
glimpse upon
is concerned.
Haydn's compositions are pearls in this respect,
crude
works
chiseled to the finest detail;Beethoven's
are
more
of rock, so-to-speak.Or in painting,
hewn
and monumental,
out
then

cast

is excellent

Vermeer
the

impression of

details. Or

the

impetuous
between

far

as

the easy and

only has

genius not

fact,what

established

by

Some

thoughts and

beauty

new

marvel

purpose

is

often

in

mind,

the

away
see,

worker

to

the
master

cultivators?

particularwealth.

at

to contemplate
delightful

most

his idea

by

use

in

is

there

the

on

no

one

and

less for

cares

unique correlation
hand, and the lesser

other.
the

is all the craft if

its

aims

subject: the perfectionistto

essential part of the project,and the

can

hard

It is

in

on
perfectionist

greater

it.In

an

is carried

who

technique. As

interest

technique forms

whom

and

of

kinds

two

the main

it with

presents

his followers.

leavingdetails to

as

physics,Planck's treatises are

Heaviside's
revolutionarywork

in mathematical

he
sketchy, intuitive;

these

Cezanne

disregarding perfectionof

often

whole,

perfection,while

of

details,while

in technical

craft,he

not

Not

very

often

wealth

the accumulated
all contribute

their inventiveness

to

motes
pro-

to

express

this
new

previously established forms. This

is

Mastery of Craft
the
to

with

case

express

philosophers:
they

most

of

system

thinking.A writer, on

thoughts
the other

39

standard

use

which

logicalforms

they evolved

of

in years

hand, often develops a novel

kind

of

Mann
and Joyce promoted the technique
writing.Proust, Thomas
of novel writing by a considerable
step beyond the stage
the contemplaused, for instance, by Dickens. They introduced
tive
and

introspectivetechnique

descriptivemethod.
They added
craft,enrichingit by this means.
In science

and

that

knows

how

grown

too
literally

master.

It will present

field

to

the various

with

cope

the

always he himself who

from somebody else,a

not

of

introduces

genius

it;it is left for

lesser

problem will be taken up later when

of masterpieces,particularly
also
wish

place I

to

illustrate the

and the field of music

in

to

his purpose.

technique, it

new

invention
not

inate
orig-

may

make

is

full

use

shall discuss the

we

in the

field of science. At

from

matter

originality

the

this

standpoint of craft,

is well suited for this illustration.

reproduced
Up to the time of Bach musical compositions were
had the
acousticallypure intervals,quarts, quints,etc., which

disadvantage that
key

one

Italian

be

clavichord

the others

divided
is

or

more

octave

noticeable

even

the clavichord

the so-called

the

acoustically
pure,

disturbing or

having
form

an

or

organ

equal

tuned

temperament,

for instance, only

organ,

less discordant.

or

Werckmeister,
difficulty,

attempts,

of which

none

on

pure,

was

this

overcome

to

field

overwhelming

will promote

did

has

This
develop its potentialities.

to

one

which

genius entering

the

lightwho

scarcely

narrow

future

it. The

invented

greater

in

craft, a

new

of science

among

portionsthat

existing

fact, it has become

methodology

specialtask for any

methodologicalmaterial
a

In

even

anyone

the

to

and

the craft has assumed

branches

instrumental

fast for

narrative

technique

decades.

intuitivelyselect from

to

When

last few

to

newcomer

that

the

of

technologythis enrichingof

large proportions in the

so

lieu

in

into

but

not

following some
twelve

these
music

earlier

enough

listener.

average
new

to

equal intervals,

disharmonious

by the
to

In order

By

which
intervals,

could

be

in any
feasible previously.It was
not
key which was
in his Well-tempered Clavichord
who
showed
the way

composed
then

Bach

in which

The

40

music

to

was

be

It
are

we

requires a genius
used

so

realize this
Another

listeners today. The

by Cristofori,
yet
his sonatas
fully

hammer

lead

to.

have

to

would

be

different

This

new

exhausted

Today
has

its

of

music

the old

as

it

by

going

mirror

to

of the

lines

along those

rate, it will have

be effected

masters

might develop. It

more
possibilities;

any

is

today

not

to

give way

to

craft in musical

new

to pointto electronic
technique.Indications seem
plementing
instruments, partlyreplacingexistingones, partlycomnew

There

them.

such

been

have

thirty years. They produce strange

unearthly,similar to the weird sounds
such

generators

great

music

will

not

curiosities rather than

lend

told

achieved

perfected.Various

Stockhausen, do

ever

be

cannot

that this will be

are

its means,

by

its precursors.

direction

in what

see

tendency.
tendency might

expression,a
musical

with

the music

where

At
repetition.

mere

be achieved

in

effects,

the

and
potentialities

modern
appreciates

one

times, it is difficult to
appears

its

those obtainable

wonders

if

Even

of it until Beethoven

made

was

when
also artistic justification

but

sometimes

One

introduced

revival of the earlier instruments, which

certain

only historical
are
played.

for
unsatisfactory

thin and

that could
artistic,

but

entirelydifferent from
there is

use

to

easy

prior to its introduction.

up to the eighteenthcentury
like the
harpsichord and

sounds

demonstrated

only technical

not

was
action,the pianoforte,

much

not

that it is

Today

music

instruments

of which

tone

craft.

novel

temperament

composers

for

music

it

cally.
imagination,also artisti-

fully utilize

equal

example. Piano

clavichord,the

not

of his

means

to

showed

twenty-four keys; he

particularproblem of

their

wrote

this

to

of the Genius

in all

composed

but, by
only technically

not

Nature

by
too

sounds, rather eerie and

themselves

harp. Whether
the composition of

to
seems

modern

composers,

encouraging; they

compositions of

possibility

instruments
such

as
to

seem

K.
be

value.

that,given these generators, a new

forthcoming, one who will show what reallycan
showed

be

electronic

It appears

them, justas Bach

to

when

day

attempts

for the past

of the aeolian

today; there

some

appear

new

instruments

the value of the

genius
be done

must

be

by using

equal temperament,

or

42

The

of

Bach, for example, Schweitzer, who

and

work

his time

more

Another

school

Genius

studied

and

tempo

maintains

life,his

Bach's

the

gave

much

matter

rendering of his work,

quiet,unemotional

less uniform

or

the

of

thoroughly,and

very

thought,recommends
in

Nature

intensity.

that the

instructions

are

ficient
suf-

never

when
even
give a clear picture of the intentions,
seemingly enough of them, as in the nineteenth century

there

to

are

entirelypermissiblefor

It is then
conductor

to

limits,of

natural

of

school

point.We

act.

side with

to

with

agree

Where,

the

performer
within

presentation
"

According

course.

creative

inclined

am

of

manner

to

the

most

to

the

thought, this variability

open

to

the

vary

the

the second

or

certain
of this

extreme

sponds
performer corre-

truth

is the

now,

positions.
com-

opinion

"

up

in this

to

the
of presentation,
flexibility

troversy?
con-

certain

different

interpretationof masterpiecesaccording to the understanding of

how
the performer. It is well known
widely differentlyGreek

being enacted on the stage; these different directions

Some
less justified.
all more
performers,actors in particular,
or
are
be
that they cannot
be so outstanding in their achievements
can
easilyforgotten.If one heard Emil Sauer play Chopin's G flat
are
tragedies

major Etude;

Mephisto
that

are

Yet

in the first part of

"

individual

should

call

these

Griindgens

or

the

as

gained impressions

that there is

shows

interpretation
by

one

artists,however

Ghosts,

Faust,he will have

easilyforgotten.This

not

for

room

Ibsen's

in

Moissi

saw

performing

plenty of
artist.

activities of the
interpretational

outstanding, acts

of

That

creation?

cannot

be.

the masterpiece remains

the same,
interpretation,
of a Beethoven
if the impressionvaries. Think
symphony,
even
in spiteof the differences
conducted
by various great conductors:
in interpretation,
it is and remains the same
symphony, and that is
Whatever

the

of the

the creation

genius Beethoven.

Or

think

of several

opera

singersperforming the difficult role of Isolde;again there will be

differences,no
score,

whoever

doubt, but

genius, and

always the

same

exciting,
expressive

singerand the conductor.

the

Originalityof

it is

the

this is

creation

is

one

largelymissing in

of
the

the

chief

criterions of

since
performing artist,

Mastery

he

the

Both

craft.

the

but

he

of

Sarah

also

of

art.

created

Bernhardt,

and

gesturing
The

kinds

two

he

performer
of

his

craft

consisting
all

her

achievements

form

own,

of

and

unique
served

are

not

was

of

patterns

truly

previous
style.

mirror

comparable.

the

of

different.

recitation,
as

audience.

an

mastery

possess

VAiglon

dramatic

to

essentially

are

his

in

own

43

must

existing

use

Craft

understandable

creation

employed
did

only

not

the

two

Rostand

technique

original
and

creator

But

one:

the

makes

only

of

The
creative

dramatists,
The

artistry

facial
for

sions
expres-

the

work

UNIVERSALITY

There

is

call it the

might
the

first

place

subjects, so
of

that

His

should

knowledge,

in

be

This

actual

knowledge

mentioned

There
is

truly impressive.

deal

is

which

How

we

in

means

variety of

possible, all fields

take

us

medicine

he

others.

probably

the

familiar, yet
know

can

man

Bernard

case,

literature, music,

and

not

was

it is

"

if

covering

single

one

comprehension

beyond

Let

immense,

fields with

be

must

point;

scarcely possible; it is only

course,

painting, philosophy, social sciences,

wide

cover,

approach.

was

this

at

genius. Universality

it should

is, of

instances

MIND

familiaritywith

fact, that

endeavor.

ideal

Shaw.

that

universalityof

wide,

human

the

feature

OF

such

just what

great

find

we

list

the

in

genius.
In

writer, this universal

mind

plays clearly indicate

the

Shaw's

by

no

wide

wide
a

to

him.

of

concrete

music.

He

in

his

may

mood

fact,

in

wide

his

such

does

was

with

the

if it is

it is

This

always

is

poser.
com-

his

in

composer

widened

case;

writings;

instance,

reflected

it stand
be

his

in

knowledge.

for

Take,

and

special

not

have

the

the

is universal

one

music;
of

man

universality
be

to

easier

applied
think

to

of

human
universal

and

penetration

and

enough.

as

sentimentality
in

capricious

temperament

We

talk

don't

44

here

mirrored

knowledge
of

the

in his

in his

he

One

his
was

finds

waltzes, festive

nocturnes,

the

was

in

goes,

emotions.

in

of

his

Universality

not.

emotions

been

polonaises, melancholy

ballads,

was

that

conclude

cannot

likely it

very

gamut

in his mazurkas
in

in

of

directly

must

traced

not

his work

From

understanding

merriment

vein

again

mind;

means

case

take

Chopin.

universal

so

us

be

matters.

Take
a

concept

scope

others.

then,

The

musician?
Let

such

How,

knowledge.

of

is

knowledge

tell whether

cannot

we

with

obvious

so

means

can

scherzos.

his artistic

mystic
This

abilityto

Universalityof

reproduce all these moods,

which

mood

It is in the

the width

same

of the

in all
of

45

of his
versatility
as masterfullyas he

is used

mind

to

geniusesor

be

must

if

is

painter.It

that

some

are

are

not

quite as

are

great

famous

include

we

is

nature

teristic
features charac-

the various

Among

not.

this universal

whether

essential

who

men

scientists. Some

as

do

of the

personalacquaintance with that illustrious

sided.
oneexactlygeniuses,that they are often pathetically
talk about
to
inabilityof some
anythingoutside their

not

The
bailiwick

if

so

from

readers will know

caste,

did.

perception,the width

of

others. It appears, for instance, that there

of mind.
show an exceptionalversatility
not
This

for

own

that characterizes the great.

genius there

picturethem

to

personality,the width

questioncomes

present

of the

that the word

sense

of the entire mind

The

him

enabled

rather

Mind

strike

ant
objectiveobserver as odd, and a less toleras
one
exasperating.It is probable that there are also scientific
medes
know
of Archigeniuses who suffer from this shortcoming. We
may

that he

an

indignant when

was

figuresin the sand: he had

and
political

matters

Johann

nor

the mood

pay

with

military.This
artists of

found

be

may

to

soldier

also among
Strauss seem

to

reveal

dared

approach his

to

his life for his disinterest in

of

absence

universal

mind

genius.Neither Grieg
in
exceptionaluniversality

lesser

an

of their music.

The

is also

reverse

Versatilityin itself does

true.

make

not

meet
genius.We
people in everyday life who exhibit a remarkable
of mind. They know
degree of versatility
quite a bit about everything,
those
of
and I'm not
who
thinking
merely pretend but of

those who
has

only
significance

discussed

wide

when

mind

and

understanding.Universality
it is coupled with the essential features

earlier.

There
when

reallyhave

are

those curious
in doubt

are

we

wrongdoer

on

tyrants of fame.

whether

grand
Plato

borderline
the

scale, like

considered

cases,
man

previouslymentioned,

was

certain

genius

plainlyas

type of malefactors, but there

are

lean

said before, this is

matter

as

of

great

man.

As

was

personalview, depending

on

today who
the

only

rulers, warriors

these latter
many

or

the

idolize
more

or

and
worst

Napoless

judge'sadmiration

for

The

46

of

abhorrence

or

devoted

time

some

his
literature;

at

around

in

man

of the Genius

gloire.The

and

war

help;if present, the

Nature

be

questionmay

civic affairs and

to

universalitymight

trait of
a

great

tried his hand

sciences,even

interest,however, centered

main

Napoleon

man.

nearly exclusively

military operations.

in
important creative work
that his universal knowledge
several fields? It is conceivable
one
or
it is also
only helps him to exploitone particularkind of activity;
works
of a varied kind. I have
possiblethat he actually creates
the

Does

of those who

talked

those
had
too

genius carry

who

men

belong

in several

great

mind, but

Let

us

not

There

they certainlybelong

to

to

turn

now

fields,who

multiple creators.

were

of this kind, and

many

most

the first type.

to

actuallywere

universal

his

on

only
not

are

the

highest

class.

of

One

is Goethe

best known

the

who

was

boot. Another

and
philosopher,
fields.With
this is

are

only in

so,

our

medical

active in
minor

Sometimes
two

and

Mann

music

few.

than

more

active
da

was

critic,Borodin

Sometimes

not

field that is

hard

so

they do

artist and

an

novelist and

people among
and
creatively,

are

to

exactly in several,but

not

how

an

at

and

this dual work

prehend.
com-

least

mechanical

Shaw
essayist,

chemist

if
of

It is this combination

way.

one

Vinci

understand

there

field,but

one

cannot

we

repeat:

to

unimportant

fields. Leonardo

and

minds,

than

genius is

engineer,Thomas
mention

I wish

more

activityin
significant

in

human

average

Again,
possible.

who

us

is

fair

draughtsman
Albeit
Schweitzer:
theologian,musician,
missionary,creativelyactive in all these
and

playwright,philosopher,scientist,
statesman,
to

novelist,poet,

wright
play-

composer,

to

simultaneously,

frequently,however, first one, later the other. This change

One
of activityis a curious matter.
might think that they would
in the first field that they
be so absorbed
in their creative work
would
such a proextent
contemplate a change. To some
never
cedure
is in contrast
with our
force
it
which, so
driving
seems,
of its goal in preference of
would
never
permit abandonment
more

another.

There

Sometimes

is,indeed,
even

the

rather human

greatest

are

element

in this

in their innermost

matter.

heart

in

Universality

doubt

that

certain

realized

in

out

for

himself,

his

virtually

is

famous

There

is

genius'
its

is

have

liked

The

time.
the
a

it

if

his
had

human

darkness

little

by

closer

to

found

earthbound

by

his

bright

surrounding
hearts.

his

of

the
sun,

genius,

plays

of

theory

colors
would

Leonardo

by
ray

'second

Vanity

his

contraptions,

acceptance
a

others.

that

that

Some

economists

among

world.

scientists.

better

switch

rise.

or

the

sibly
pos-

infection.

to

insists

man

mechanical

like

begin

Ostwald,

disappointed

ingenious

mystery
our

great

contemporary

element,

and

and

appreciated

rather

was

accepted

Haeckel

it, and

talent

philosophers

turned

when

humor

sufficiently

not

machines,

war

of

bit

chemists

Mach,

years:

first

their

concerning

second

later

cessation

cholera

to

repeat

his

the
of

complained

talent

only

take

himself

activity

toward

not

can

necessary

output

have

who

Invention

would

he

his

openly

those

the

that

could

exposing

by

and

Goethe

part.
not

was

he

well;

that

later

felt

he

somewhat

another

of

start

secret

sufficiently

not

well.

the

have

all

composing;

suicide

doubts

Not

when

is

motive,

the

and

Tchaikovsky

very

of

up

age,
case.

Bach,

physicists

their

in

such

understandable

when

certain

small.

very

inspiration

over

drying

stopped

committed
It

at

field.

was

years

actual

an

This

success.

Another

world.

field

another

try

freely

talk

entirely

not

are

to

better

with

not

the

They

inclined

are

would

47

creation.

greatness

of

in

second

of

be

welcome

most

and

rest

genius

survive,

they

the

might

related,
run

which

by

their

achieve

might

of

motive

of

value

will

it

they

where

is

the

about

Mind

of

various
of

princes
shines
and

his

through

brings

him

DEPTH

The

universalityof

rightly
all

of

sorts

There

is

mind

genius's

it is the

Universality"

so.

PERCEPTION

OF

shores.

But

depth,

characteristic

the

width
is

ocean

and

emphasized,

the

of

It reaches

ocean.

it is also

only wide,

not

of

been

has

genius, which

requires

deep.
few

remarks.

When
wish

we

which

say

to

stress

he

look

of

found

in other

in

thinking

consultation,

is

comparable

while

This

the

On

oddly
a

shaped

tree.

maidservant

Most

will

thought. Only

few

will

stop

listen

to

call

depth of perception,

In

genius, it may

It is the

reaction

genius this
senses

the

motives,
the

hidden

or

reaction

unusual,

for

causes

element.

without

by

go

be

in

the

sing

giving these

and

watch

the

strange

feature

not

let

see

an

they hear

strange

melody.

impressions much
man,

observe

It is this attitude

relatively few

in

us

work.

with

park they

running

song.

present

sarily.
neces-

now

foreign country

window

open

In

This

composer

occupied

not

not

engineer

hard.

all. But

to

is often

an

although

running.

man

that

thinking of

common

travel

an

twisted

tree

be

we

all think

strenuous,

as

said, it is

conference,

the

to

be

also

During

the

degree

who

because

they

"

relaxation, when

in

through

people

in

intensity

creatures

with

court

at

they notice

street

fellow

man

This

him.

superficially.As

depth may

people while

at

his

business

may

of

kind

around

intensity with

the

perception,

concerned

certain

which

work

at

look

to

them

attorney

an

of

from

are

people.

depth of thinking. What

mean

everything

around
we

not

depth

markedly

things

depth

is

hears

him

at

do

we

here,

and

sees

differentiates
rule

depth,

we

we

people.

vital.

of

the

man

is strong,

the
and
He

to

his

an

interest

unexpected.
circumstances
will

connect

48

impression that

He
not

is

will
seen

it with

In

matters.

fully awakened,
search
on

other

the

for

he

possible

surface, for

similar

impres-

Nature

The

50

Variety shows

Toulouse-Lautrec,

dancers,

not

in

Genius

for

entertainment

nothing but

are

mortals.

lithographsof

memorable

such

figuresas

studies

His

Guilbert

Yvette

to

the

and

La

led

la Galette

de

Moulin

the

and

Rouge

common

singers and

the

studied

contrast,

only their exterior,also their characters.

Moulin

in the

the

of

Goulue.
In earlier

sight of
been

knocking

person

incident;he

an

tale he

youth, a
Plain

experience

sex

giving

without

it

is

Golden

attention
it

thought.

have

must

imagination
daydreaming

in his

out

of

Pot.

everybody

matter

much

too

spun

vegetablebasket

adventures

in The

down

wrote

over

Hoffmann's

E.T.A.

public squares, the

in

markets

were

beginning of the romantic

the

as

hurrying

some

probably common.
caught by such

was

there

times, when

It is

takes for

granted

lucky that there

are

studied
quite so nonchalant about it. D. H. Lawrence
from
all possible angles: physiological,
the act
pathological,
the minutest
down
ences
detail,including the experito
psychological,

geniusesnot

of both

used the material thus collected

and female. He

male

unique novel, Lady Chatterley'sLover, remarkable not only

it is the first instance
because of its poeticalpassages, but because
sex
in the annals of literature in which
experience is openly and
described. The
study of an everyday
detailedly,
yet inoffensively

in his

event

the

was

genius. This

matter,

sex

this achievement,

to

cornerstone

genius,will

of

in works

greater detail in a later chapter.

in its endless
of nature
observation
Keen

"beautiful"
descriptions

our

even

without

exclamations
be

explained,it

must

is manifold.
been

chief

Thoreau's
contact

of those

For

v.

and

Humboldt's
Central

countries

taken

variety is
nature

up

in

of the

one

superficially;

"breathtaking" remain

this

depth

of

The
inspiration.
is the

Nature

nature.

or

be

feat of

true

ly
mere-

sincerityof feeling.This sinceritycannot

poets

of

source

enjoy

us

be felt. Its contribution

classical work

with

Alexander
of South

of

genius. Most

characteristics of

outcome

creative

to

observing nature
same

of his

holds

deep

ment
achievehas

ever

for writers:
and

intimate

for scientists as well:

inspiration
the entire natural history
lifework
on

America

is

an

has its root

during his travels.

in his

deep observation

Depth of Perception

51

is another fertile field. Consider

nature
Society and human
all of us spend a goodly portion of our
lives in the company

people.The

benefits? Distraction

great novelists cultivate

why

reason

the

company,

is

society;for them

the

for company

have

of
the

not

stupidest
nonsensical small talk,the hollowest gossip is

most

cornucopia. Of course, in order

magic value, the great novelist must
a

brushwood

That

and connections.

that

of small talk and

be able

reach

to

such

the dense

to

penetrate
soul of people.From

the very

this

such masterpiecesas Balzac's Scenes

penetrationthen emerge
and Proust's Temps perdu.
In science depth of perception is so elementary a requirement
mention
it. Yet, there are
curious
that it is nearly redundant
to
considering.One is that a great scientist sees
aspects of it worth
solve
does not. Obviously one
a problem where
a lesser one
cannot
of findingunanswered
a problem not
perceived.This matter
tions
questrivial but

not

"

scientist. Darwin
not

essential

could

ones

"

have

never

is characteristic of

great
if
he
had
theory

his

evolved

thorny problems during his travel,problems certainlynot

seen

lying open
There

on

the surface.

is still another

aspect. Let

us

assume

scientist follows

of
particulartrail. Now, those trails have a deceptive way
into trivial directions;
the opening to the real
leading the man
up

secret

is so

gotten

through,the true scientist discerns

When
surprisinglystraightforward.

small that the average

scientist would
a

never

path

needs

of that before?"

genialmind
example will

An

leave in their trail

have

to

heard

question:"How
seems
so
simple

It

penetrate

the

on

the surface

of the acoustical

is

times
some-

are

is it that

nobody
evident,yet it

and

opening.

narrow

be of interest. We

which

results of this kind

published,others ask the usual

thought

it.Once

see

know

the

of the water,

waves

and

fast vessels

the reader

may

produced by airplanesmoving
with supersonicspeed. There
exists an exact
opticalanalog,produced
fast
is
called
which
Vavilovmoving
elementary
particles,
by
Cerenkov
discovered
a
fter
the
who
radiation,
men
it,as mentioned
in Chapter 2. The
phenomenon was
actuallyobserved by other
others the Curie couple; they all misinterpreted
scientists,
among
it

as

waves

simple luminescence,

fundamental

nature

was

until

discovered

some

years

later its

true

through deeper insight.

and

10

MEMORY

few

order.

standard

The

It

of

the

that

it is often

and

in

craft

require

analogy plays

draw

can

will

at

of

productive

science, is often

talking
refers

about

heaps

to

level, like
How

him

"

Goethe

smallest

detail

details but

for

not

train, and
in

the

of

of

is

It

life,
and

the

genius
rather

phrase,

in

with

universality

and

literature

were

we

interest, whereas

and

data.

memory

universality on

lower

is

and

formulas

an

excellent

indispensable for

calculation

they

he

tool

creative

on

Other
do

not

which

of

quote

we

is

in their

pencil

that

came

handbooks

need
mind.

only useful

the
some

and

problem

scientists

not

down

paper

only

well

so

take

the

in

his kind

noted

had

any

carry

activity.
52

because

remembered

could

Fermi

conversation.

volubly
afraid

am

many

early youth. True,

authors.

autobiographical novel

sixty, he

that

"

too

his

write

to

over

jot down
of

been

not

rather

and

Goethe

great

reading

on

ease

memory.

able

his

see

with

have

was

can

one

all. It is said

course

figures

memory

his

was

he

when

up

is,

often, there

because

mood

in

if confronted

find

and

works,

invention

just

genius, particularly

mind,

talked

of

store

vast

world

in

it

and

wrote

quite

would

this.
work

in the

which

from
not

like

nature,

both

words,

encyclopedia.The

heaps

and

important

the

nature.

in

to

easy

goes
role

found

is

not

invention

information

anybody

it is

argument

material

copiously. This

of

since

how

other

as

one

belongs

memory

general filingcabinet.

Emerson
of

is

of

walking

good

in

are

memory,

important

an

out

by
In

store

and

rigid requirement,

task

pointed

works.

large

that

together. The

go

was

art

genius,

great.

supplemented

previous

fact

of

controversial,

should

two

feature

the

to

is somewhat

scientists;also, it

how

point

mentioned

was

another

outfit of the

matter

why

see

about

Observations

the

to

words

but

You

see,

actually

53

Memory
let

Or

that

look

us

the

at

of memory

think

bestowed

by

of

mark

not

as

only

nature

is

genius. It

according

questionablewhether

be

The

idea

firmlyimprinted in his mind.

that thought is this. A
behind

which

wood,

interest,with

mild

think
among

indifferently
or,

tales associated

with

If, then, he

sees

would

child.

not

Memory, according

depth of perception that

perceptions, whether

leads

the

to

nature

to

be looked
depth of perception may
Plato
in outstanding minds.
memory
in

poignant

good

memory

what

he has learned has

doesn't

attempt

to

stresses

learn. Need

like

as

person

the

with

all other

it is with

learning, and

or

upon

manner:

mind

that forest

saw

of

so

good

the

cause

the

importance of

who

does

retain

not

sieve,and he is better off if he

I tell that many

of

us

when

wince

read that?

we

Some

believe

that memory

hardly believe that.

you

must

be

born

cases

poor

It is the

with

improved somewhat

be

other
forget it. An-

ever

imprint.So

of six,

the age

at

this idea, is interwoven

to

relation

in

that he

remember

even

forest,which

particularlyappeals to him, in his childhood, say,

the impression will be so deep that he might never
person

forests,and

dark

depth of perception distinguishes

other associations. This

many
him since his earliest childhood.

most,

at

patient watcher, the

as

will

feeling of deep appreciation:he will

of its beauty, its hidden
mysteries, the flowers growing
the trees, the animals audible or visible only to the silent

with

and

experienced in

he

impressions.He

and
at

his very

feature
distinguishing
depth of attention he

is the

else looks

someone

rate,

any

remember

not

as

along

go

position.At

does

genius, as explained in Chapter 9,

to
seemingly unimportant events
pays
see

should

one

supreme

of

superlativegift

Everything

is unthinkable.

earliest childhood

life must

to

genius who

this belief,a

to

as

privilegedindividuals

certain

upon

this elevation of memory

with

tool, but

useful

preferto

Some

work.

for creative

is valuable

good memory

just said

angle. We

another

from

matter

them.

by

can

be

same

as

Of

proper

acquired by training.I
other

with

course,

an

better look

genius:

memory

average

exercise,but the result is in

and rather discouraging.An

insignificant
memory

traits of

for artificialmeans

average
as

can

person

can

most

with

substitute,such

The

54

notebooks

as

which

and

becomes

Hence,

rather

form

lost, which

his past

largely conditioned
experienced.
sometimes, if

grades. The

brain

for the great

integralpart of the

it,he would
of

stones

live in the

retain

abilityto

be

would

spiritual

one's

the mind

of

genius

everything he

extraordinarymemory

an

well. At

as

mental

express

has

age.

an

maturityof

ability

an

less absent. Details

or

for the

not

develop

to

with

gift forms

more

his

by

it sounds,

as

better

genius. Without

complexity and

Curious

Genius

precisely the building

are

The

world.

innate

an

of

than

worse

as

only with

present

the

of

pads, instead of trying

memory

picture we

Nature

be

can

is

has

cap
handi-

genius, at least for the lesser

certain limited
capacity, and this holds
future epoch it will be possibleto
some
true

capacity in chemical

today

terms,

we

describe

can

it

only vaguely. The brain consists of a large but limited number

of cells performing a dual work:
they store information and utilize
it for

something

by different
hinder

the

spread of the other.

fewer
relatively

might, by

with

person

sheer

of

type

one

of

limitation

"new"

underlie creation.

People

with

vice

wide

wide

will

one

made

are
nor

information
scientist

is

deep study

not

conducive

of the matter,

done

he look

touches

on

good

part

to

lead

him

into the literature

his work

in the

on

light of

two

much

too

good

his intuition

the

the

these

into

is this: without

of the work

originality.

point:

our

originalwork.

to

an

coveries
college years. Original diswhose
knowledge is neither

follows

one

is often

particularlyoriginal,
classed

illustrates

problem

new

experiments that might

having

This

settled.

his

novices

by

not

actuallybe

recall from

often

often

are

can

too

attack

to

knowledge

Professors

versa.
as

groups,

does

possess

produce the

inverse

tain
cer-

might
having too

room,

outstanding people, not

geniuses, there
relation between
encyclopedic knowledge and

too

structure

Among

and

to

room

brain

associative elements, which

performed

are

for

compete

of

functions

two

might

two

development

storingelements

many
and

the

structures,

Excessive

extent.

the

Although

new.

going
and

for

way

into

carries

on

right solution. Only after

and

having

subjectand
what

has

obtained

results,

the

finishing

put

been

achieved

by

55

Memory

others.
to

factor

with

the

all I

aspect;

much

blind

the

look

forget

the

had

after

his

Memory
from
find

those
them

mostly
is

Their

achievements
the

as

their

fact

makes

us

important
Do

not

desirable

that

of

and

shows,

be

not

absence

of

genius
people

features

trait
of

man.

if

think
petty

as

to

half

are

of

highly

of

of

itself

repute
We

remember
audience.
acrobats.

trait

coupled

in

could

just that.

they

example
not

to

as

worthy
note-

genius

the

in

cance
insignifi-

with

others.

these

artistes

really be

could

genius.
All

you.

creative

good

is

muscular

other

any

bad

intelligent
are

went

piety.

ability

an

he

only

some

minimized;

of

are

their

could

he

elle

in

he

ability

otherwise
pour

others

as

as

remarkable

received

even

bother

never

Verlaine,

seeped

and

excessively

an

qualification

just

whether

confuse

has

baffle

trait

let this

the

saturated,

computation,

ones;

is

only

artistes

the

feature

previous

memory,

among

with

Even

would

And

life, had

genius

simple-minded

wonder

for

which

to

complete

he

that

Chansons

should

particular

without

needed

his

whose

Memory

owners.

of
The

of

geniuses
say

the

in

of

calculated

acrobats

are

of

variety

on

plished
accom-

up

memory.

become

needed.

Bonheur

feature

good

that

into

go

cluttered

not

true

all-important

an

is often

might

overamorous

"geniuses"

sequences

They

when

on

ascetic

as

to

he

stages

his

written

been

used

gone

work

be

must

young.

have

books

original
is

it

will

we

too

is old,

formulas

various

what

have

year

in

up

is

chapter

mind

by

he

and

all the

them

through

not

when

Einstein

remembering

whose

fixed

new

memory.

is that

genius

lights,"

genius. Age

later

here

say

finally, there

good

in

"lesser

the

to

"

young

genius,

toward

And

to

for

goes

regard

information

of

mind

in

genius

want

the

by
too

also

degree

some

this

all

Although

in

all, good

memory

is

highly

11

PERSEVERANCE

It is often
great

shown

by
if

be

can

that

no

are

statement

did

not

shows

overlappings
The

upon.

quite

bit

be

might

we

superficial;
we

involved.

qualificationof
implied by

was

character
be

can

often

so

that

the

trait

compulsory
Every

is

thing
any-

have

And

add.

to

more

for

blamed

have

we

perseverance,

ever,
How-

omission

using

or,

patience.

the

Actually,

is

factors

more

by which

means

statement

yet. There

mention

simpler word,

The

many

finished

the

industry is the chief

achieved.

there

means

we

that

stated

to

topic might

creative

avoided

hardly

have

we

of

the

discourses

ingly
seem-

various

this

of

nature.

topics previously touched

to

looked

yet

same,

the

on

activity.Indeed,

in

back

come

be

comments

our

from

upon

ferent
dif-

angle.
Similarly here.
works

lends

him,

is

demoniacal

It is

as

It is

soil

from

genius

to

evening

Patience

lawn.

that

of

it is

the

certainly

and

is rather

does

need

virtue

an

oxen.

association

tillinghis

genius,

no

the

simply

farmer

severance
per-

trace

bees, horses

patience.
is

contrast,

invokes

genius

but

nor

as

such

sign of genius.
there

Yet
a

till

early morning
his

feature

not

human,

and

ants

degree than

lesser

gardener weeding

or

find

scarcely possible to

with

not

exemplified by

is

than

wider

even

In

aspect.

feature; there

human
it. It is

about

demoniacal

said, a

we

which

under

quasi-external constraint

very

feature.

animal

exists

psychologistto

impatient

one

man,

connection.
sense

that

who

has
There

One
creative

types

The

length of

particular work

length

of

of work

work

scholar

requires patience.
cannot

An

well

possible exceptions, but certainly

Also, certain

The

are

few.

respect.

be

perserverance,

something

work

to

no

create

great.

not

require
is of

less
some

patience than
importance

is, generally speaking,

56

very

not

others.
in

this

related

The

58

Scientists need
work

of

work

complete. Not
chain

of many

links,and

suppliesonly links;there
the

small

branch

scientific

paintingsdo

no

particular
is reached, a genius

deadend

his regret

not

live

to

to

in the

seen

work

the

opens

vistas

new

up

workers.

of science
of

turn

Thus,

coming

The

lifework

of Einstein

expressed

in theoretical

new

who

in the mind

was

have

must

could

physics,

had

tum
quan-

of science

endlessness

same

miniature

or

century

our

he
off. Prophetically,

in his mind.

mechanics

the

at

see

seemingly rounded

then

lyric poems

to

endlessness

who

Boltzmann

Ludwig

are

genius.Science

seemingly completed

comparable

exist. This

not

temps

basicallyendless: each solution brings along

problem. Gems

another

be

is

problem

du

the greatest of its contributors

such thing as completeness.After

suppliesan unexpected link which

for further
generations of
possibilities

and

work.

voluminous,

of the scientific

apparent

an

la recherche

and

appears

of

and

ance.
persever-

mammoth

even

have

contributors

of science

is

in

privee,however

the work

length of

importance of

Proust's

la vie

de

with

so

artists. The

finite lengtheven

Nibelungen,

Scenes

Genius

of the

measure

has

art

des

Wagner's Ring
perdu, Balzac's

as

the

of

patiencethan

more

mentioned

was

is

even

Nature

may

complete his

not

the unified field.

on

Think, then, of the patiencerequired for working on a problem

that has no beginningand no end. That patienceis,indeed, endless
like the

problem

with

finds

utmost

it is
his
as

its

Not

passage.

the

not

only the

in

incorrect
an

to

artist.His
said

leading the
the

his Faust

endless

patience of the

thetic
pa-

for

tist
scien-

fightin that
geniusneeds

is inherentlydifficult:

scientist faces

obstacles

along
chief obstacle is the "malice of objects,"

that

more

implying that
facetiously,

scientist astray
was

to

comments

"happy if, digging

was

scientific work

For

state

research, finds that he

found

when

of science, also the

little man

perseverance.

path than

The

earthworm."

an

who

comfort

the

deep insightrealized the

is sharplybrought
tragicimplications

F. T. Vischer

fun

his famulus

industryof

treasures,

with

enjoys

never

of scientific research

condition

the

scientist

affords. Goethe

finished work

on

itself.The

misled

hoped-for solutions.

has

nature

particular

who,

after months

in his

and
suppositions,

Fritz Haber

spent

many

or

years

has
years

of
not
on

59

Perseverance

developing a technique for the extraction of gold from the ocean;

if a
wonder
after years he finallyhad to give the matter
up. No
continual
odd person:
scientific genius becomes
thinking about
an
the

The

the

the

to

why

only reason

the

geniusneeds

art

appear

science, are

or

perseverance.

ing
allud-

am

standards, can

daily life it

efforts. In

man's

easilydiscourage a

in

which, by normal

of success,

absence

him

day makes

every

in the eyes of the average

man.
difficulties of the subject,whether

queer

not

his work

torturingdifficultiesin

is found

frequent
in-

not

person'sinterest
lax,or changes to
in his work; he either becomes
indifferent,even
in the later
such a possibility
mentioned
another occupation. We
disappointmentscurtail

that continued

rather
genius;what we are concerned with here occurs
in the early phases of his life.
Success
particularly
not
come
easily.This was
to
a genius does
quently
in earlier times, nowadays unrecognized geniusesare less fretrue
Bartok, appreciated
encountered, although there are some.
years

of the

only

after his

however, there

death, is
were

many;

Mozart, Schubert,

Whitman.

and

Keats

patience the

The

point,Kafka, another. Earlier,

it is enough to recall Rembrandt, Bach,
in

case

circumstances, if
he is

value
are

firmlyconvinced,

indifferent

and

his output:

to

finding that people around

either do

they

notice

not

they do, receive it coolly or actuallyrejectit. Critics

bad reviews

later;here

matters

if the

man

is

to

the situation

remains

utmost,

if he is

strain. Such

cases

not
are

in the heaviest

and

of

enough, he

luckilyrare,
of trials. The

sensitive nature,

can

the
man

be

these

tax

may

perseverance

slowly

in other
steadiness;

during his

unchanged

recognition may

strong

him

of

and

if

their part,

the trend

Sometimes

for his stamina

him

Continuing absence

necessityof

the

his work.

continue

do

him

it, or

shall be said about

day. More

merely point out

changes,rewarding
cases

of the

the order

are

nomic
eco-

of whose

creating work

in poverty,

not

nearly

mostly adverse

under

superhuman. Imagine him, working

is

these conditions

requiresunder

man

his

break

entire

lifetime.

strengthto

the

under

the

down

force sustains
quasi-external
of genius,if unrecognized

the

most

unhappy

among

all

The

60

Mere

humanity.

the

or

less

not.

so

as

he

his

in

is

observer

impartial

is

patience

faith

unbounded

Nature

is

not

to

to

judge

the

Genius

enough,
and

vocation,

unable

unable

of

say

it

whether
whether

be

must

doggedness
it
the

is
work

coupled
of

virtue
is

with

which

or

truly

an

foible,
great

12

PROLIFICNESS

thought
that
the

produces
of

pointed

was

vast

it is

bag

reach, and
be

out

of

more

the

the

might
the

the

notice

of

the

out

up

such

goes

put

on

have

another,
great

not

less
amount,

so

ly
seeming-

only

to

siologica
phy-

certain
in

later

to

seems

tion
connec-

of

latter,

for

if
he

the

which

geniuses. By

ever
what-

Compare

piece
master-

immediately

will

you

the

has

even

everything

all

and

former

sources:

for

source,

is filled.

worker

lesser
the

magical

writer, observing

the

greatest

and

producing

continued,

not

plenty,

bag

for

has

of

has

he

which

said

word,

of

character

basically good,

possessed

it

into

being

is

thin,
that

so

him.

with

only through

many

had

man

genius

would

plenty,

remained

nothing

end,

only

if the

of

product

It is

except

best

horn

melodies.

or

be

kept filled, it

is

bag

the

demonstrable

no

the

thought

this difference:

formed
as

has

musician
be

It is

possession

is in

not

will

bag

magic

painter. Only

with

often

to

age.

scientist, listening for

means

artist

or

products. The

his

of

which
his

and

instances

he

with

is

into

disposal

study for the

reason

do

little

genius

say.

practically inexhaustible"

genius

many

to

material,

another

limitations

In

that

10

want

man's

comes

bottomless,

with

duct
pro-

writer

great

Information

we

scientific
the

at

Chapter

what

filled with

magic

stands;

information.

for

narrow

whether

in

out

of

store

too

fact

quality of the
has

genius. Quantity

be

might

It

deal.

great

creator

the

Yet

matter.

It

its

stamps

geniuses.

it is the

attribute, since

secondary

in

observed

frequently

is

Prolificness

an

had

lived

Of

on.

interesting question. If
one

could

equally high quality?

61

to

come

ask:

are

this

course,
a

all

genius
his

an

doubt,

death; these, without

untimely
they

to

seems

never

brings

produces

products

of

The

62

is inclined

One
the

to

work

also

degree

that

least

on

sum

of those

great

I do

offered. Its
be wrong
To some

man.

control, is

for which

general characteristic

of the

health,

not

to

Mood

known

the

is the

all of

to

equallyimportant
it;

counteract

can

will, in the

strong

well

will

strong

certain

explanation
physiological

no

that it is

deny

degree

think, however, that

not

to

of his

state

called mood.

importance is
to

but

surroundings, and

internal influences
be

the

on

fluctuate. The

to

the man,

on

depends

in his immediate

it would

and

It

is bound

man

only

not

Genius

imponderable,commonly

can

us,

the

question in the negative.Indeed,

great

depends

circumstances

to

of

circumstances.

on

of

the

answer

qualityof the work

quality of

on

Nature

of self-

sense

genius.

only circumstances and mood, the subject itself can affect

qualityof the product.Certain subjectshave a greater appeal

Not
the

others. It is

than

interest him

that he will

true

the

However,

most.

automaticallychoose

subjectis

those that

always entirelya

not

choice, it is often suggested by others: some

of Bach, the
portraitsof Rembrandt, the Goldberg Variations
of his

matter

violin
had
to

own

of Mozart.

concertos

depended
that

reason

freedom

emphasize

of

us

look

now

compared

with

The
interesting.
whom

at

the

same

origin.

subject! More
fascinating

Here

connection.

will

merely

subjectwith the true personality

of
influence
the
by necessity
quality the

survey of the man's

certain variation in excellence.
reasons

the

facts. What

greatest

of

do

they

vast

indicate

Something

outlined?

expectationas

very

have

always

not

It stands

geniuses"and

duction
pro-

when
rather

it is these with

do not
show
the variation mentioned,
mainly concerned"
position
degree. There does not exist a comor
only to a minor
of lesser quality.
that might be termed
of Beethoven

we

are

Practicallythe
of his work
mean

the

executed.

of the

resonance

might show
Let

another

these various

For

do

genius" what

will

man

have

not

entirelyspontaneous

an

it in

that the

of the

assignments

if it
that the artist,

works

are

alone, would

of the

said of

will be

work.

such

works

quality as
The

him

on

These

that

was
some

same

holds
done

at

for Mozart,

despitethe fact that

the request

of others. That

of their works

could

not

be

does

some

not

preferredto others;

63

Prolificness
that is

quite possible,the choice

of the

judge. The

not

of

one

In

Planck's

contrast

"whose

that

this,there

to

of this kind.

minor

beside

stand

for the
find

Their

not

men"

in

one

is

group

in

and

group

excellence

in

is

group

nearly

that with
could

daily

such

cause

to

who

and

is present
the second

the variation

show

first

degree. The

marked

tried

I have

explain

to

factors

many

are

the

quality,yet

often

is rich

fountain

the

regard:

will

and

be

can

groups

prolificproduction there
in

few,

the great. You

and

us

very

tioned.
men-

name

In this respect

of

rest

in this

variation

the

work

unnatural

to

uniformityof quality that

to

the

quality,excellent pieces
is a fairlygood criterion

greatest

missing in the other.

little closer

justa

modest

our

the

It is the

bottomless.

seems

variation

Both
quite generally.
work,
produce much

it holds

both
prolific,

are

between

distinction

that

This

ones.

is

the greatest

among

variation

the

is of varied

work

show

not

Liszt, Berlioz, Schiller,Heine, Velasquez,

are

taste

clarity.

great

are

clearlyindicates

work

that would

books

or

papers

the

on

quality.There

is of lesser

none

depth, originalityand

in

utmost

point is

depend mainly

will

truly

great

that
affected
un-

are

by these natural and ubiquitous factors.

Not
few.
the

all

geniuses
for

And

this very

of concentration:

masters

little.It is
said

that

an

writing only,

"when

scarcelyany

other

he

compact;

his

introductory books

only

few

collections

to

surpassedhim

books

is
are

into
of

so

say

his

too

much

in

by

full of what

they
those

Among

mention
an

hauer
Schopen-

"oligographer,"
a

precision and

fact,
cinctness.
suc-

is

literary output
besides

numerous;

theory of relativitythere

his scattered

essays

as

if,as often

say." And, for

whose

one
not

to

are

unusual,

again,even

being

on

something

had

writer

brief

are

like

I should

scientists,Einstein

Among

to

Original Theme."

actuallyprided himself

who

rather

on

in compactness

excelled

understood

again and

it forth

is the case, it is "Variations

who

These
interesting.

are

of the great

most

they bring

they

exceptions, although

are

feature,this compactness;

remarkable

before, because

cherish

there
prolific;
reason
they

are

and

two
are

talks. This

The

64

in

is

sparseness

Nature

striking

the

of

contrast

Genius

the

to

inner

vast

his

of

contents

work.

Chopin's
music.
is

One

is

might

think

quite

not

only

lesser

you

works

is

It

of

volumes
his

to

his

rather

the

This

forty

years'

who

lived

Schubert

say,

piano

life.

short

compare

of,

thirty-one.

of

left

significance,
he

indeed.

feels
within

one

can

he

cannot

his

mind.

do

that

only

had

Some
I

sort.

some

like

cases

everything

Generally,

activity,

due

was

when

seen

freak

are

unusual,

defect

carries

of

age

compress

Very

be

paucity

numerous

there

Finally,
of

this

three

in

mainly

of

result

ciseness
con-

expression.

in

work

contained

may

the

the

to

as

so,

with

output

to

work

to

say:

live

think
the

long

who,

Bizet

besides
He

masterpiece.

one

might
not

of

say
be

into

that

inclined

to

some

able

was

single

work.

consider

it

so.

genius,
enough

during
to

bring

his

of

period
forth

all

he

13

CHARACTER

We

have

been

discussing
for

essential

features

other

some

not

much

so

might

we

and

the

social,
of

part

his

prefer, the

certain

are

belonging

ethics

Without

of

uttered

in

views

morals,

if

He

about

morals

goodness

Absolute

principles

they

set

up

to

country

known

our

time

there

kill:

at

minor

the

if you

or

locale

nations

little variation

Romans,

take

in

this.

suit

to

another,

in

the

that

but

one

servant,

such

an

although

short

time

relatively
example,
a

their
from

vary

to

in

killing

in

moral,

principles

century

To

and

scarcely imaginable;

The

Even

tion
concep-

truth

great

and

time.

he

as

weakness

absolute

an

are

unethical; today,

not

in
is

groups

one

changes.
the

as

terms

standard

sign of

behavior

and

from

the

his

with

agree

colorful

such

There

development.

been

was

this

begin

fire-spitting
philosopher

believe

not

ethical

relatively

of

I'll

one.

certainly

we

it

badness.

another,

time

cause

did

the

toward

individuals,

historical
have

are

genius. Or,

character,

the

in

not

considered

on

by

show

might

some

word

perhaps

and

needs, conditioned
one

talking of

writings,

he

by

They

of his

particular

any

every

his

hypocrisy. Moreover,

are

to

and

absolute

his work.

consequence

contemptuous

was

for

with

continue

us

genius.

Nietzsche

employed.

activity. Let

the

teristics
charac-

genius's personal

general biographical traits,personal

to

by

subscribing

on

rather

as

discourses

our

the

strictly necessary

cause

not

far

so

creative

not

they

say,

TRAITS

of

short
to

not

slave, for

action

would

be

manslaughter.
This
to

our

of ethics
principle of relativity
present

the

topic, the

must

suit

very

special individual,

need

of

the
as

genius.
individual
we

have

67

finds

Moral
or

striking application

principles,
a

amply

group.

as

The

demonstrated

said,

we

genius
so

is

far;

The

68

Nature

the

of

Genius

moral
principlesthat suit
nearly impossible that the same
human
being should suit his specialneeds. A genius
average

it is
an

cannot

be

course,

conform

minded

judged by

in

must

we

the law,

to

judging

realizingthose needs,
then, brieflycertain
in the

The
found

from

him

features

but

man,

Some

the

be

to

be enumerated

to

be broad-

must

this end

people, not

Let
unjustifiedly.

traits of

character

traitsof great

as

them

review,

us

genius, often
in the

condoned

demned
con-

tional.
excep-

always,

not
frequently,

are

of

must,

standpoint.To

specialneeds.

his

censure

average

ethical

an

he

Although

anybody else,one

as

understand

to

try

standards.

average

men.

It cannot
be otherwise;he finds
rule,a geniusis egocentric.
if they do appreciatehis
himself mostly among
people who, even
As

work, do

understand
actually

not

surroundings. The

isolated in his
he

mutual:

does

features, and,
himself

his

While

hard

be

it can
This

is

not

and

children

rather
The

lovable

In

the

great

known

to

common

conscious

enlarge on

the rest, and, in

trait,and

in

an

have

been

crowd
of his

superiorityand

Goethe

and

dren.
chil-

examples,

are

he

his

loved

egocentricism

are

chapters.

haughty. He

knows

that

may

is

actuallyrepelling.

person

be

excused.

Shaw

is

extremely sarcastic toward

approached

did

tance,
acquain-

fact,superiorto them. This

and

it

own.

loving husbands

in later

some

and

conceited, and
whenever

his wife

some

this

of

average

it is understandable

his wider

his creations

among

conceited

geniusis sometimes

not

and

ramifications

will

interesting;
we

been

Wagner

said that

to

between

of his

world

circle,on

there have

so:

the great:

Various

most.

he is different from

the

his immediate

on

always

fathers among
Thomas
Mann

and

is littleconcern

egocentricnature

of his basic

one

is erected

is often

of others,

amusements

wall

lives in

surroundings. He

himself

sees

understanding

loneliness is

invisible

result, an

lack of

His

result,he

pleasure in the

different.

are

as

his

and

find

not

his interests

since

him. As

not

him.

conceal

Beethoven
his

was

opinion.One

forget that what is commonly called haughtinessmay

in realitybe something different,such as exaggeratedwitticism,or
attitude to hide shyness,a frequent attribute of the
assumed
an

should

not

great. Sometimes, however,

it is

genuine. Schopenhauer'sphiloso-

Character

condemns

phy

the

he

stupid.Whether
have

it is obvious

not,

out

abilityautomaticallyimplied that he was

If he had been a humble
character,he
works; his private ethics

immortal

To

avoid

character
did

by

no

is not

impeccable, as

means

incidental

weaknesses; we

he

may

his

genius;it
who

man

is these

works

Finally his

the

and

another

from

his, new

man

exhibit

those.

Again,

definite correlation

is

may

He

with

concerned

How

has excessive

with

who

the

is younger,

advanced

more

this is! He

natural

aims, and who

and

acknowledged

methods,

genius's

is that his character

tacitlyexpect.

animosityduring

appears

emphasize:

standard;I hope the reader

jealousnature.

is

his

written

talkingabout.

are
a

exceptions.

have

not

to

that show

we

greatness

Then

weaken

must

his creative needs.

point

not

hard, who

indifference

meets

to

some

are

exhibit weaknesses

genius is often of

is a

generallyinferior

would

wish

misunderstanding, I

the few

among

served

gain that impression.The

not

that he

keenly his exceptionalposition,being able to discover,

and
describe the endless stupidity of mankind; this

felt

point

right or

was

69

humanity for being inconceivably

part of

major

Traits

mostly

early part of his life.

he

who

famous.

becomes

has ideas different

views, and

threatens

to

his

his own
strenuously gained position,to overshadow
for which
he had fought during the best part of
views, principles,

his life.His

known.

are

many

jealousyis aroused, and the

The

sad

typicalexample. Haydn
Brahms

Strauss for his

is it

and

majestyin

One

success.

possiblethat

man

Bruckner's

insightaroused

contemptuous
derided each

Bruckner

reads amazed

like Brahms
music?

are

rivalries of which

of Schiller and

story

made

result

He

Holderlin

remarks

about

other; Mahler

is

thoven;
Bee-

hated

of these animosities: how

did

not

have

an

likelyhad, and

very

for the

eye

just that

his

pardonable jealousy,
incitinghim to derisive
As may
be seen, the degree of his own
is not
comments.
success
a
decisive factor;jealousy is found in the highly successful as well
as

in the unsuccessful

believe
A

made

there

further

are

few

excusable

of this before.

rather among

genius.It

is

in whom
trait in
It is

not

the foibles than

of their universal

one

it is
a

great
a

I
traits;

entirely absent.

man

is vanity.Mention

universal

feature,and

the defects of character. One

was

belongs
is apt

The

70

rather

smile than

to

vain, so

frown.

to

And

Wagner.

was

amusing inasmuch
the second order; it

is

Nature

as

of the Genius

Courbet

known

was

scientists there

among

plenty. It

were

finds it frequentlyamong

one

that it is

appears

excessively

be

to

the great of

promoted by

mild

degree

of

complex.
inferiority
mention
Let me
a subjectthat deserves
specialtreatment; it will
the sex life of the
be discussed in detail in Chapter 18. I mean
ter.
genius.In a sense it belongs into the present discussion on characIt has

said that

been

he deals with

in which

manner

the
particularly

is

people. Conscientiousness

exactly a

strong

is revealed

own

of

way

with

regard

by the

genius,and

money.

dealing with
the

conformity with

in

mediocre

to

of

way
is

women

not

point of artists.

Since I mentioned
of

of the "vices"

its

has

always

not

and

women

artistic type,

which

women,

character

man's

money
a

ago, let

moment

finish this survey

us

genius with his dealingsin that

explainedin Chapter

hoarding of

that the

It

matter.

is

money

was
a

never

The
fact that some
chief purpose.
reasonably
were
wealthy, either because of their parentage or unexpected income
through their work, is not in contradiction with the statement,
man's

great

hardly be expected that they refuse what

since it could
Far

from

they actuallysquander it in

hoarding money,
fashion.

unreasonable
generators,
that reason.

such

was

Tesla, the

Nikola
a

is their due.

inventor

typicalsquanderer. Many

of

rather

electrical

were

poor

for

with the corresponding likingfor

of economy
of life's luxuries characterizes many
a
poet and musician.

some

This

is

thus

not

Lack

Some
surprising.

especiallythe rich, had

needs.

provided him
them

owed
his

letters

Wagner's

no

with

the

duty

provide for their worldly

to

expressed this
to

were

in clear

so

of these

people. Schopenhauer who

displayed this
a

weakness.

large income

He

from

he

happy, he

actually did

create,

wrong.

was

found

in

some

reasonably well situated

probablyrealized
his

the rich who

feel flattered and

Considering what

perhaps not

terms:

surprisingis the attitude of avariciousness

More

expect

geniuseswere

money

thanks.

standpoint was

and is
way of living,
convinced
that society,

of their unconventional

consequence

writings,and

that he

since

could

not

he felt that he

Character

had

still

in

needed
his

not

so

lack

of

in

rebuttal

rare.

to

become

however
him

the

in

point

the

first

in

the

of

nature

is

no

medieval

way

look

to

there

is

upon

in

strict
and

The

he

is

explanation
this

much

not

Villon
band
detracts

poet

in

activities

illegal

lyric

rather

badly

as

can

we

sign
say

consistent.

Francois
of

been

record.

similar

man,

he

years

businessmen,

inclined

be

to

member

illegal,
as

in

other

the

spend
have

to

with
is

71

to

known

and

anyone

want

we

in

case

is

one

genius

true

if

Extremes

if

and

easy,

of

only

wish

not

publishers

the

not

did

Shaw

with

dealings

he

say,

poverty.

probably
is

to

more

Traits

who

of

by

thieves.
from
of

the

power

matters

money
poverty

This

driven

was

circumstance,

recognition
and

are

we

convincing

owe

cerity.
sin-

14

OUTSIDE

the

Within

question

frame
be

can

the

to

than

of

for

the

have

men

of

life
and

does

tions
inclina-

nothing

more

appears

objects they value.

of

the

be
the

if

wrong

objects

of

inclination
the

life, although

It would
among

of

natures

the

genius

generally applicable answer

instance,

luxuries

from

luxuries

the

for

made,

simple circumstances.
those

these

the

aspects

given. Indeed,

be

cannot

was

them

Since

most?

diversity of

Mention

particular

diversity, a straight and

question

natural

what

of

biography

general

asked:

genius appreciate
of great

of

INTERESTS

greatest
wanted

one

some

lived

exclude

to

cumstances
cir-

genius does, under

in

appreciate.
the

Reading

into

or

to

include

he

time.

The

word,

describe

from

what

obvious

those
nature.

This
likes

have

be

which

great

walk
parts,

have

in

in

life, on

of

the

the

is

that

rather

in

he

could

of

valuation

to

great

his

mind

not

directly
of the

spends

genius,
his

to

not

own

cerned.
con-

free
used

been

have

implied. It should

the

use

be
field

clear

is

too

question.

our

consistently found

said, will be very

open

is

man

which

there

in

keep

raphies
biog-

that

interest

side interest

genius,

often

admiration.

express

among

The

is

one

nature-loving.

itself in various

show

the

is the

what

to

is

man

impression

course,

which

their

into

preferred, however,

for

geniuses

for

may

said

of

about

we

answer

an

fields,we

Two

relaxation

slight

we

to

best

subject;

our

somewhat

word,

the

glancing

fairlyconsistent
must,

we

talking

are

considers

what

to

we

or

gives the

wrote

special field with

any

What

masters,

particular and

discussing these,

In

man.

the

they

letters

fields of

two

are

of

works

country,

not

plain woods

sights of exceptional beauty.

What

72

There

ways.

necessarily in
and

he

will

likes

fields, not
is

nature

be

one

some

who
tacular
spec-

presenting
in

itself,in

The

74

whatever
the

their

same

scientist

do

with

is

they

are

into

goes

interested

in

endless

details

merely

latter

Similarly

he

nothing
the

Thomas
musical

plot;

Mann's
is

creations
it

to

shows,

to

with

the

phrase"

technical

scarcely

necessary

the

scope

the

of

art

that

the

the

his
of

with

Proust

of

artist

painting.
he
ing.
touch-

is

Leverkuhn's
of

promotion
the

interest

he

story,

which

sonata

description

of

that

fictitious

love

in

for

Socrates,

music.

his

plot

the

sonata;

nothing

instrument,

of

on

poet,

everywhere!

the

enlarge

exacting

however,

musical

Vinteuil's
"little

of

lovers

paintings

do

to

writer

with

repetitiously

returns

in

deals

the

men,

recreations;

Creation

painting.
about

of

dominant
pre-

creative

professionally

were

play

so

philosopher,

highest

many

all

is

course,

element,
for

have

they

Planck

that

creative

intuitively,

the

as

great

has
for

serves

it
and

then

the

Elstir;

love

wonder

no

Quite

of

reason,

appeal

strong

The

be.
the

although

Nietzsche

Shakespeare,
It

music,

They

it.

has

art,

Gemus

to

nature:

to

artist.

or

loves

physicist

to

of

the

of

happens

respect

works

in

whether

field

own

with

as

Nature

his
had

writer

music.
There

interest

genius.)

is
for

scarcely
arts.

(Note:

genius
an

without
interest

an

for

overwhelming
arts

does

general
not

make

15

RELATION

In

of

Chapter

behavior.
his

being,

own

in

living
would

exhibit
latent

stay

good

in

person

are
or

such

of

relation
somewhat
It

It is

others.

enough

which

that

often

to

seems

whose
of

taste

tell

him

that

foreigner

as

man

Chinese

of

of

be

though

the

There

geniuses,

fascinated
work

the

Sophocles

of scientific

may

genius

he

from

the

by

of

genius

is

an

average

he

observer

relies

genius
an

he

is

on
a

Indian

under

75

is

for

not

strange

invisible

external,

the

too

straint
con-

source;

raries
contempoHe

advanced.

biologically of the
is

not

foreigner
a

is

same

with

concerned

impressions which

his direct

to

from

radically different

works

although

stamp,

or

is

posterityonly,
knowledge

or

of

discussion

drama

they

even

emanate

anthropology;

or

on

the

remarks

general interest.

works

that

recall

the

species. However,
biology

Yet

of

grasp.

different

has

one

or,

words

various

brief

the

let alone

is for

his work

for
creature

to

others,
few

say

comment

rightly, that

said, and

was

earlier,

not

society,

their

beyond

then

us

of

character

not

are

toward

acts

subject

Kepler.
to

features

his

is

man

behavior

the

into

society. Although

The

could

or

genius

Let

made

been

Greco,

Newton

of

sum

toward

order.

of El

painting
as

the

people who

many
a

in

These

might

not.

or

inquire

can

general.

have

be

one

Basically

relations.

others

others.

to

in

human

meets

feature,

genius

line

will

matter

he

simply

the

of
this

along

this

society

say,

attitude

whether

are

of

absence

he

same

of it

features

some

person,

the

peculiar character,

his

has

and

feature

others.

to

sum

ideas

is

person

reference

direct

is the

views,

own

of

society,although

relation

traits, they

might

the

in

from

Apart

forest,

in human

bad,

or

without

his

to

character

the

character

Now,

traits,pertaining

Strictlyspeaking,

alone

spoke of character.

we

person's ethical

of

13

SOCIETY

TO

to

him.

Westerner,

As

much
and

even

The

76

Of

more

so.

of

meeting

few

course,

lucky enough

are

genius,they

true

of the Genius

Nature

much

are

have

to
too

the

opportunity

for that. What

rare

us

is invaluable for
say here holds also for the lesser geniuswho
curious observers in that,being more
frequent,he permits us

to

have

we

glimpse

share with his elusive

There

certain characteristics which

at

happens

to

big brother.
genius and society,facingeach other with

the

they are,

he

As
for society, its reaction
unpleasant helplessness.
the strange "bug" is clear-cut, prescribinga straightforward
to
worldly;
abnormal, inhuman, unpath to follow. It considers the creature
a

of

sense

itself with him appears

hopelessand
occupy
of time. This attitude prevailsduring the major part of the
to

life;if his achievements

waste

genius's

fied
generallyrecognized,it is modi-

become

admiration,without, however, becoming basically

the man
feels equallyrepulsed,whether
altered: inwardly, society

by

is

cowed

unrecognized
result

famous.

or

in

The
in

is

acquaintancesand

of his

concerns

matters

to

of the latter

which

he

primitiveto

seem

sports events,

as

or
politics,

ephemeral

What

is the

of

know

them

him:

few, do

to

talk about,

justas the

interest. An

friendlyrelations.

of shows

the

petitive
com-

or

of relaxation,

as

means

of

general interest,

conditions

changing too
meets

not,

matters

economic

he

are

ments
by others. The amusethe reading of low-class

the attendance

mention

current

result? When

what

to

to

in his eyes,

possiblemutual

conducive

share, he

by necessity,without

his leisure time. Even

worth

and

not

ideas

everyday life,the
of job security,
relatives,
matters

attends

literature,
including newspapers,

such

few

of

Matters

preferencegiven

and

thought,time

seem

extend

to

investments, the purchase of life's commodities

savings and
mostly

social

able.
also understand-

little understanding for them.

has

societyis

stranger to him, with very

he does not
interests of his fellow men

The

sarily
neces-

attitude in

societyfeels compelled

genius toward

person

average

common.

an

not

financial.

or

of the

behavior

societydoes

it is

action:

animosity in

active assistance,
moral

of

attitude

in instances when

behavior,even
The

This

appear

shallow

rapidly to merit attention.

person

in

latter is at

he
society,
a

loss for

atmosphere is created

does

topics

that is little

Relation

This

is branded

He
such

Society

shyness. A

genius

he

genuinely introvert,or

77

pany.
usually shy in comcolorful expressions,

is

more

necessarily.The

not

only behave

may

because

so

ground

with

for him

and

who

caused

only apparent,

was

Such

society.Luckily,

not

his fellow
for

exceptions to

are

terminology

goes,

the

truly great,

more

the

incomplete

ones.

is

Shyness

men.

realitydifferent. Conceit

in

trait. The

behavioral

latter

friendly

well-known
students

helpfulto
field but

many

was

so

form

stronger

of

ness.
shy-

biographiesor letters,we may

less unfriendlyto the
or
more
and

of cold

was

behavior.

stern

professorwho

is kind

excellent

man

and
in his

along this line is the rude genius.There are

of these. If,however, the genius is a wit, he

question.Dumas
of rudeness,

mer,
of the for-

consequence

simply

of

type

help his rude

cannot

be

touch, they

of mind, unfriendliness

colleaguesis often an
the truly great.
among

Still a step further

probably

geniuses
the colloquial
are

aspects

two

and

rarelyfound

probably not

deplorableboth

be
genius may
point raised in Chapter

frame

might

that many
are
great men
lot. Planck, for example,

common

The

is

the lines in

Reading between
conclude

common

worse.

are

it. It is

exist without

it can

or

that the

any

as

are,

touching on
are
definitelyunfriendly.We
13, concerning conceit. Although the
are

of

good "mixers." They are rarely found among

of geniuses,
the minor
sort
frequentlyamong

gentle trait;there

of

always. There
who

of lack

obvious

situation is

the rule, and

be

congenial, his

the absence

by

may

genius

If he luckily meets
someone
congenial company.
becomes
it
shynessmiraculously disappears; then
latter

words

infrequentlyapplied.These

not

are

although
justified,

be

Other

introvert.

an

wolf"

"lone

as

may

result in

might

to

This

Brahms.

virtue in the usual

sense,

Shaw

and

pere

in

to

answer

niaiserie
known

were

trait in behavior

or

cious
offi-

some

for this kind

is

not

genius it is pardonable

exactly

because

of

society'sgenerallyhostile attitude.
Whichever
that

way

we

look

genius and society do

said earlier,is

people such

as

upon
not

this matter,
see

entirely understandable.
you

and

eye

to

the
eye.

Society, an

most
myself,appreciates

conclusion
And

this,as

is
I

assembly of

of all conformity.

The

78

No

atrocity

greater
A

standards.

of

thoughts

The

everyday

is

genius

in

hostility
they

are

every

as

its

to

evident
natural

by

in

and

consequence.

those

the

its
of

traits

have

the

in

of

to

reaction

natural,

innovations

unwelcome

are

innovation.

any

no

new

run,

is

way

values;

new

These

long

foundations

cultural

whose

rest.

to

only

not

very

The

in
in

foundations,
life.

the

objects

are

as

own

of

phase

becomes
its

well

by

the

development

geniuses

which

the

involve

distrusted

highly
clings

naturally

genius

technology

and

system

of

they

sense,

society

automatically

people

thoughts

new

science

of

group

accepted
to

whole

of

work

contemporaries,

by

resented

any

slowly

and

The

accepted
commits

other

any

that.

the

to

from

deviation

than

forgive

traced

Genius

than

more

beneficial

although

strongly

who

one

gradually

are

the

of

imagine

cannot

be

can

thoughts,

since

is

society

humanity

it

can

genius

and

atrocity,

Nature

economy,

wonder

society

that
which

time-proven

own

the

genius

briefly

to

outlined:

this

16

CONCEPT

DILUTED

The

following

remarks

of

are

previous chapter dealing with

These

have

remarks

genius, mentioned

do

to

the

by

the

the

of

nature

with

the

reacts

genius

diluted

so-called

society

way

appendix

an

of the

relation

the

to

society.

to

of

concept

tion
Essentially, this dilu-

I of this discunsion.

in Part

is caused

GENIUS

OF

the

upon

phenomenon

genius.
Look

all those

at

perhaps

shade

he

in

her

father

of

three

person,

for

country.

activities have

such

he

as

has

he

who

scientist

is the

and

he

his

colleagues
and

newspapers

What
certain
worth
we

do

the

old

us,

of

believe

imitating.
best

our

not

to

in

such

but

course,

as

our

efforts

our

order

do

it, I

have

achievements,

our

easily admit

showing

could

it either

products, often

been
to

79

as

that

to

only

not

but

the

also

genius.
First, there

worth

become
And

talent
us

more

is

or

at

better

less

all of

least. Some
to

come

in

hidden,

of

the

vain, but

others.
and

We

if

so

It is

too.

Not

try.

we

to

it, and

great,

might
or

ourselves
much

bit

practical value,

his

singer

hail him

his

certainly

can.

of

that

"

to

his

others, particularly those

to

some

others

have

is

in

him

others

exaggerations?

man

after

soon

his greatness,

imitate

to

us

great

imitate
If he

argument:

of

of these

of

in many

has

boon

light,a

critics, too,

pointing

keep

explanation

tendency

that
will

magazines

is the

while

convinced

are

to

and

in his innermost

who

contributed

edifice,science; if his contribution

vast

forgotten

it

The

is the

clever

be

not

politician,a

tenor

asserts

before.

existed

never

celebrity. There

if not,

or,

will
and

is

of the

think

Or

firmly

is

clerk, marries

by his followers

nearly always he

stopped.
"

is the

is acclaimed

Yet

is convinced

heart

becomes

child,

is the

mother

whose

average,

There

children.

There

us.

truly exceptional. She

something

who

shrewd

on

is

the

belief, until he

shaken

the

than

brighter

that

convinced

around

"geniuses"

us

clusion
con-

we

insist
we

are

The

80

lucky enough
and praise our
Even
in

find

to

many

achievement

there

cases,

be

to

at

people show
time

some

ambitions

will have
the

This

hammering

make

to

them

acclaim

Obviously there

asserted claims.

hope

be

to

indifferentlyor

claimant,

spoiltheir
at

utmost

another

or

with

even

own

those

of it and

show

to

to

the

claim.

own

so

This

deeply
something more
to
long enough
accept
who

in the audience

day. Should

some

reluctance

become

time. It is in their

raise

of

victims

men.

some

great

his claims

actuallyturn
chances

be

may

acclaimed

wide
geniuses be sufficiently

would

had

many

consider

now

use

great

the whole

not

themselves

is wrong:

impossible.But

to

conversations

their life the

during

is
story. There
of the audience
in this willingness
is

rooted

act

assumption

well

too

enough to show it,they

great. It is not
their allegedexcellence,
until finally,
on
away
has gone on long enough, their audience will

their thesis and

accept

regard. Intimate

have

they are

hammer

to

be

to

their

will do

that

the world

when

another

or

doctor, would

limitations

own

whether

talent,perhaps moderate, perhaps quite appreciable;

some

they

in that

be

to

us

simple man,

plain country

that this

later found

have

who

clerk, or

or

all of

in

is practically
out
nobody with-

might think that

unjustified
hopes

such

been

general desire

ambitions,that he realized his

cherish
with

proportion to its real merit.

instinct for imitation,effective

inborn

is the

One

farmer, worker
such

of

out

acknowledged. There

that ambition.

no

of the Genius

sympatheticlisteners,
they nod approvingly

disregardingthis

somebody,

Nature

toward

momentary

they would

down,

they
merely

elected into the chosen

group

interest that the select group

of
include them
when
as
to
they

is the

basic

for

reason

the

diluted

concept.

Nearly

all of

give grudging praise and

us

contemporaries,and
for the selfish
a

mentioned.

reason

large number
sufficiently

little.We
relatively
or

retiring;there
So
Let

us

one

of

are

people

plenty who

more

whom

deny it

It is

certainlycannot

it is that group
add

in fact

would

we

admiration

them,

to

were

imperative that
great.

Who

be bothered
talk loud

and

elevate and

thought.There

is

we

to

it

our

not

declare

that is,matters
with
demand

the modest

tion.
recogni-

admire.

reallynothing wrong

17

GENIUS

There

is

It

is the

genius

and

curious

his

have

life without
either

lucky

or

the

scientific

all ages,

future;

were

often

often

drew
is

employed

by

university

the

through

went

of them,
it. To

however,

make
been

activity has always

certain.

the

or

the

living

lem,
prob-

geniuses

aristocracy; they
frequent employment

most

where

academy,

times

earlier

In

sometime

likelyto change

is

Nowadays

art

or

here

mean

who

great

rulers, Popes,

salaries.

the

paid.

This

ours.

between

employer.

tion.
elabora-

needs

relation

actually needed

tell for

cannot

we

that

employed. Many

artistic

or

including

regular

at

say,

us

among

sought employment
in

let

ones

been

ever

from

unhappy

he is

having

purely

in

or,

rather

for which

been

EMPLOYE

foregoing chapters

and

master,

regular employment
There

in the

point

one

AS

have

they

teaching

duties.
In

some

cases

but

in the

this

majority it is
in

partly explained

work;
these
is

first

the

In

place

everything

is interested

genius

else

is

burden.

is often

have

reasons

so

only

in

been

discussion

short

of

at

creative

for

energy

destined

to

look

and

the

is

be
not

not

works

is

prevented

by

any

82

is

amount

his

own,

of

hard

or

from

as

creative

if devoted

youth's
and

sufficient

leaving
art

not

after, even

forming

of

in

required
from

certainly

man

creative

own

frequent duties,

most

often, teaching

original

accomplish,

the
at

patience,

cannot

the

that

what

Quite

producing
genius

true

of

One

not

teachers

work.
time

requiring

rate

any

different

nature

his

work

the

Now,

teaching, and

is

enthusiastic

chapters,

previous

easily understandable.

occupation,
and

employments

mentioned,

was

as

affair. The

thorny

suffice.

will

as

the

tion,
fric-

without

smoothly,

works

employment

mind

tedious,
and

time

science.

doing
of

what

extraneous

he

is

duty.

Genius

and

interfere with

will

this
Still,

Employe

as

83

his intentions,will slow

atmosphere, a state of mind

happiness.Happiness, as has been pointed out,
a

promote

genius,and
While

the friction mentioned

often the

employer, this is

always

not

satisfythe

to

rarely the lot of

of the frequent causes.

one

is

from
of the money
he earns
Sometimes
the positionis

is in need

man

is

down,

conducive

not

an

him

so.

high

not
actually would
with
it. Exceptionally, such
be
to
a
want
position may
part
he was
satisfactory,
outwardly at least,as with Goethe, when
of Weimar.
Often
such positionslead to
minister at the court

enough

to

man's

in the

clashes,as

open

vanity,and

his

of Voltaire

case

he

the

at

of Frederick

court

the Great.

Cases, where

the

like,againstodds,
his best
to

is

man

pleased with

his employer, yet

satisfy
about it. The
worldly matters

go

to

enough

to

When

the

he

prince whom
that the

he thinks he

not

into the task. Quite often

that the

employer had

the

offered.

suspicious,and

such

in earlier times

always the

victim

to

the

vinced
actually con-

heart,his

ability

true

but the fact is

is wrong,

friction. Third

extremes

all these

all his life he

sought these employments

income

in

Nearly

to

contrast

The

the

make

to

what

partiesthat
the

favors

and

of continual

barely escaped

trouble
with

and

is the

factors
was

employer

because

of Ben-

case

employed by

rulers. He

they provided

possibilities
open

besides,his vanity. However,

he

best,he finds

of machinations.

himself

source

his

good opinion of the man.

Particularly
the
and
the
rule,
intrigueswere
genius was

Cellini.

master.

are

his

venuto

own

his whole

increase

to

classical illustration of

his

in

expected something different from

positiongo
weaken

put

doing

pleased,and

the accusation

their bit

the man's

envy

involved

becomes

was

far from

serves

had

man

Intrigues do

how

reallyknow

not

practicalenough, nor
diplomatic
with
the assignment to full satisfaction,
even

out

carry

he

tries

He

is he

him; neither

the best intentions.

man

he does

to

strange

instructive.
particularly

keep it,are

to

would

position and

his

to

an

steady

artist who

was

praisesof the princes pleased,

these

positionswere

danger; on

his life. Whether

number

in the

nothing

but

of occasions

employment

of

The

84

Clement

Pope
the

VII,

various
and

What
is

artist,

burden.

this

becomes
the

often

the

ardent

this

and

feel

themselves
achieve.

to

hard

to

is

genius;

in
it

show

is

any

the

of

the

or

of

place

notably
him

over

are

compulsion
direct

to

with

genius's
enforced

of

the

genius
from

compulsion,

in

from

the

one

life

other,

are

first

others,

everyday

to

change
for

will

men

position

not

permitted
This

them.

the

is

case

possible

this

in

to

is

pay

will

may

what

do

take

the
his

man

own

day

one

not

they
be

easy

that

circumstance

whether

to

to

aim

perhaps

respect;

independence

be

difficulties

particular

certainly

desire

suited

best

of

One
know

will

great

in

curious

who

full

genius.

elementary

recognized,

from

I,

activities.

control

each

people

the

of

future

and

simple

be

wish

the

Perhaps

of

life

reconciled

oppose

Independence
wishes

petty

most

two

troubled

needs

seems

be

Francis

part

the

which

King

artistic

exercise

to

cannot

the

same

the

discussed

compulsion

French

scientist,
on

we

Genius

his

the

as

source

misery.

the

right

When

people.

by

led

well

external

activities;

the

always

have

Chapter

invisible

an

III,

Compulsion

who
In

Paul

the

hampering

as

independence.

employers

is

he

obstacles

the

of

Pope

Dukes,

intrigues

Nature

in
word

it

is

question
for

it.

18

SEX

After

topic

discussed

having

is

fairly obvious:

inspired

and

course,

the

material

of

present

point of view.

Sex

is

own

is

true

activity of the

depends

rest,

the

his

of

success

is available

To
is

to

sex,

in

least

have

his
In

aim,

is reflected
He

under

those

Don't
an

ideal

than

and

course

his

and

output

information

exact

is

of

from
range

all

an

collected
a

ones,

too

his

and

toward

the

of

secondary

exhibit

are

scientific

and

slow

life,which

is

Although

minds.

remark

us

in this respect.
in

peace

called

progress.

has

basically monogamist,

be

mostly

of

man

order

dull,

This

of the

A
to

ment.
excite-

well-regulated life without

life may

no

peculiar features

scientists
of

is

importance.

discourses, let

with

women

there

group

not

our

scientist's

sex

that

atmosphere

daily regularity
in

in

is of

do

striking

they

ways

also

who

attitude

characteristic

sex

respect

statesmen

some

bourgeois

that

those

first

in its

of

in

too

that

needs

scientist

pattern.

not

people's;

matters

excluded

parentheses

achieve

in

among

at

the

little

geniuses whose

are

other

behavior

Foremost

we

there
from

different

specific attitude

in

sensitive

more

upon

if the

wonder

no

present.

at

genius. His

it is

ways

of which

to

attempt

an

actually influence

matter

and

biographies

geniuses, especially

so

extent

felt

have

poets

is

many

many

appreciable

an

the

following

people,

in

person

his work,

begin with,

not

other

life. It may

love

quality of

for

next

subject, and, of

the

on

life of

the

in

even

genius,

The

men.

pivotal factor

artists. This

the

great

and

through

is scattered

autobiographies
our

view

genius, the

the

life. Writers

sex

their

air

to

life of

social

it is his

entitled

vast

LIFE

even

regularity

strict

family

feels

happy

children, and

conditions.

misunderstand

husband,

by

me:

no

means.

do

not

He

85

maintain
needs

the

that
frame

scientist
of

is

family

The

86

life,but he
what

do

is

we

not

by

course,

American

men

that distinction belongs more

title;

to

as

and, I believe,to Orientals. In

be

must

and

Of

ideal husband.

an

inasmuch

slipperyground,
that

ideal husband.

an

mean

of the Genius

Nature

husband

that holds

probably

rule

claim

cannot

continental

Europeans,
ideal husband

scarcely a good lover,

scientific

his abstruse creations

with

preoccupied

as

scientist is
for

more

questionis,

treading a littleon

am

simplephrase,an

one

lover. A

and

the

be

to

genius.He

is

lover. When

too

he is

he

might; at a later age only under exceptional

in love
circumstances, for instance,if he happens to be very much
with his wife, and the latter happens to retain her youthfulcharm.
a

man,

young

So there you

have

the

life of

sex

scientific genius in

nutshell:

good family man, but not an ideal husband. This is the standard
picture,with deviations here and there. Great scientists and philosophe

sometimes

of

shyness

these

stay

the

into

that of

exceed

The

unworldly

coupled perhaps with

men,

from

exterior, prevented them

develop

bachelors.

typicalbachelor, and
family man, if they are

unattractive

an

suitable

finding a
find

and

nature

They

mate.

that

peace

might

bothered
particularly

not

by physiologicalneeds. A classical example of this type is Kant.

it is questionablewhether
a bachelor, but
Schopenhauer too was
he was
happy in that condition;his pessimistic
philosophymay be
attributed,partly at least,to his involuntary
celibacy.
So much
about the love life of scientific geniuses.Far
for
colorful is that of artists,

of

genius.It makes

mentioned

was
inspiration

or

that

reasons

as

more

tiveness,
rather obvious. Inven-

are

of the chief

one

in what

difference,however,

requisites

field

man

is

of his inspirationdepends on
his field
active;clearly,the source
is more
less interwoven
An
with the
artist'swork
of activity.
or
of

concerns

source

taken

of

has
inspiration

meaning
literally,

the actual

meaning

for creative work.

of such

an

source

The

twofold
from

source

material for his work.

spiritual
sense,

source

of his

love; love, therefore,is one

contact

It
significance.

which

providesthe
with

atmosphere.Even

tion.
inspira-

can

he collects his

also be taken

It may

that

of

sources

women

in

proper

be

topic,

higher,
phere
atmos-

tal
is a fundamen-

people entirelyvoid

of

Life

Sex

when
geniality,
is the

such

all. This

Let

not

has curious
look

us

to

love,

led

are

write

to

love

poems:

Particularlyascending love has

that extent, and descending love

this
not

consequences.

closer

with

this situation

at

While

descending loves.

and

in

of love.

power

stationarylove

power,
at

and

young

87

regard

flourishes

love

and

ascending

to

man's

grows,

genius this state is a

love is waning, either
powerful stimulus for creative work. When
in a genius such
gloom results;
by disappointment or by surfeit,
enthusiasm

and

is

condition

There

is

act

every

evidence

for

genius,it

it promotes

is

at

of

nature.
physiological

there
partly well established,

matter

of the brain. This

individual;in

stimulus.

as

hormonal

this,a factor

behind

chemistry of the

the

Sexual

likelyto

not

more

With

activation

flourishes. In

also

joy

activityof the

influence

is of greater

satisfaction,
resulting in

positive
in every

ity
importance, since the activlevel than

level

low

general,found

is

incomparably higher

an

testes,

is

of

in others.
mone,
hor-

testicular

has

exactly the opposite eifect;it depressesthe activityof

the brain, so we
might call the effect negative activation. This
in the genius.
again is equallygeneral,and of greatest consequence
The

physiologicaleffects

with

the

As

two

love

of love, those

states

rule, love

positivehormonal
decreases

is in

the

What

after consummation

will

course

situation?
his creative
a

He

artistic

needs

love
must

love

may

genius take
as

after intimacy,

increase

deeply rooted; such

an

he
activity,

stage. As

corollary,
accompanying negative

with

rule, because

and

consummation,

cases

are

in this somewhat

not

ing
exact-

stimulus, and, for the sake of

keep

his love

always

the

situation

is the

on

the increase

nearlyimpossibledemand.

One

way

of

lettinga love
the

before

increase

quite definitelyso when

frequent.

too

we

intimately connected
ing.
called ascending and descendare

activityaccompanies that

activation. I said, as

"

mentioned

dealing with

affair

come

negativeperiod sets

without

formal

to

in.

consummation,

and

obvious

dropping

one

of

it when

Repeated cycles of this kind, especially

marriage,are

considered

unethical

in the

bourgeois

The

88

world; for

would

of caution

is in

always reliable. Judging from

be

sake

licentia

be

might
of

unlike

poetica, not

always give

not

of
art

cerity
possibleinsin-

products

lyricpoems, he
I said,this cannot

Heine's
as

reference

certainty.His

with

maintained

from

outlined, yet,

the method

followed

have

Biographies do
life,and, because

love

about

tial,
essen-

Heine was
probably
illogical.
mutandis, George Sand. A word

conclusion
of the artist,

the part

on

not

order, however.

information

correct

be

may

be

artist of this kind, and, mutatis

an

Genius

active genius the method

artistically

an

its condemnation

and

of the

Nature

his many

to

may
must

be

romances

spellingfor the

incorrect

rhyme.

sophisticatedvariety of love in cyclesis the kind in

it is
his object before consummation:
which
the artist abandons
elevated
form
of the simple coitus interruptus.Accordingly,
an
there is a slightlypathological
tint in this technique, at least,by
A

more

for the artist it is a proficient

of the average
man;
who
is one
above. Goethe
of avoiding the conflict mentioned

standards

the
way

carried
with

it

the

Both

through with

great

he displayedin
regularity

of

recurring sources

The
inspiration.

opportunity for

aspects

during

of life.

from

draw

the artist can

which

continually

periods,while providing
ficial
benesimultaneously

interim

search, are

renewed

of relaxation

times

all other

permit the artist to

described

ways

regularity,in keeping

and

success

spend

more

he collected
executing the projects for which
material during the previous period of soaring and enthusiasm.
of inspiration.
in equal need
of this type
Not
all artists are
need it most
who
Those
are
poets and painters:it is these two
time

who

work,

on

require the feminine

for the
and

lyricpoet,

the

these

two.

still less,
for this type

about

of

are

The

needs

what
women

has been
to

The
inspiration.
are

no

are

the

lesser

ment
developlargely

degree, a

boundaries

we

the

in the whole

rigorously valid

contact

said refers

help to understand
fluid. As

subjects,

close

without

is hardly thinkable

in this connection

genius, there

of the chief

one

for his models.

involved, in realitythey
to

are

affairs,hence
musician

for their work:

subject,a material

women

women

these needs

of romantic
to

and

love

painter needs

resultingfrom

as

statements;

are

writer

ing
talk-

ties
complexiing
field relat-

it is

our

The

90

of

occurrence

their

with

Nature

of

features

abnormal

general behavior.

that the relative incidence

the

of

This

of

is

Genius

the

life is in character

sex

homosexuality

in the average. I must

admit that I have
it is possible
that the difference in occurrence

study of the

reasons

higher in that class

is

than

only. Intensive

of the

perhaps one

statisticalfigures;

no

is

genius,of his work

an

and

apparent

his

one

biography

reveals that
Let

oddity,whereas it may pass unnoticed in other people.

of the observation. The
accept, however, the correctness

us

deviation in an altogether
sex
explanationsuggested:a pathological
abnormal
Let us
individual,does not seem
entirelysatisfactory.
look for other
A

classical

example is Socrates,although not

of the

because

one

possibleexplanations.

Greeks; it was
is

may
have

be

that

For

women

are

the old
Socrates

Yet
regarded as pathological.

not
certainly

phenomenon.

luckily chosen

of the habit among

general acceptance

good example, since he furnishes

of the

man

not

an

key

the

to

understanding

of

it
exceptionalmental powers
adequate spiritual
They
company.

only limited interest in philosophy,logic,mathematics, and

the
around
their interest is often centered
disciplines;
of livingstandards,
practicalaspects of life: in the maintenance
minded
and in the upbringing of children. A philosophically
man,
a true
genius,may find it difficult to exchange his ideas
especially
similar

with

and

woman

from

work

mentalitywill
enough

rather for

who

men

young

constitute

to

youth
of

those of
the

Earl

is

one

of the

of

to

Southampton

always kept
search

larly
particu-

of

dark:

not

only

deflection

All

of that

the assertions
the reader

one

of

that in

the

spiritualcourse.
genius for a highly

to
a

driving motives.

Tommaso
do

reallyconvince

cannot

friendship remains

Michelangelo

to

one,

bodily inclinations.

kinship, this
spiritual

talented
extent

unexpected

had

there it is

best. From

him
satisfy

to

This

and

ideas,yet not famous

receptiveto new
able and
rival. Spiritualintercourse with

more

the contrary
he
his teaching career
Socrates

for that purpose,

men

are

will
talented young
men
an
step, and perhaps not
toward
spirituality

the

with

conversation
look

expected impetus for further

with such exacting
her. A man

receive

to

In

traditional

certain
sonnets,

cases

such

the
as

Cavalieri,or of Shakespeareto

permit

clear

diagnosis.Other

Sex

instances

are

obvious, such

more

laine and

Rimbaud:

Verlaine's

love

the year
There

ties

the

as

were

for his beloved

91

Life

Ver-

friendshipbetween

the

strong enough to overthrow

he had married
whom
Mathilde

before.

that the

other

may

be

male

body

The

causes.

sculptorsmaintained

Greek

the female.

superiorin beauty to

was

No

concept of beauty
dominates
the natural instincts is led to choose a partner of
over
The
of second
ideal beauty in preferenceto one
rate.
opposite
then

wonder

argument

it

accept

would

as

then

substitute

her lovers from

The

among

motive
spiritual

remarkable
he
based

on

similar

to

These

A
operative.

sequence

scorn

at

the love

best. The

the female

Greek

Amies:

poetess Sappho chose

admirers and followers.
be

seen

in Verlaine's

baud,
friend of the poet Rimhomosexuality,an aberration

himself

fullyunderstood feminine
the superlative
appreciationof
of another.
her own,
motivations may
appear

the male

to

opposite sex, and

of the

feminine
her many
in such instances may
Les

high mental qualities

of

woman

of
superiority

of the

convinced

body. She

the mental

genius in whom

be also

may

be

might

that

for the beauties,

woman

complex;

since

we

are

concerned

anomaly in a genius,it loses its relative simplicityand

becomes
pictured
entangled in the mental processes of which we
a few.
Imaginationtoo playsits part. The role and importance of
the latter in a genius was
emphasized in Chapter 6; yet it has
with

an

implicationsnot only with regard to the work, but also to life.

into wildernesses into which
a
Imagination can carry him away
in the usual sense
Love
"decent"
venture.
never
bourgeois would
might not satisfyhim because his imaginationpoints at ways
Not
exotic and more
tions,
by convenmore
being encumbered
exciting.
of which
leads him
he is ready to follow those ways, one
under
scrutiny.The nearly limitless fancies
preciselyinto the maze
of Proust
be assessed from the explications
of his imaginationcan
on

this

in his A

matter

la recherche

du

temps

perdu: not

an

sider,
out-

disentanglethe psychology of the phenomenon,

the imagination of a genius
thereby showing to what extremes
well in a few
can
go in a field that could perhaps be described as
chemical
plain medical terms, at least until we are in possessionof its biohe tries

to

basis.

19

AGE

We

have

fellow

his

turn

to

the

various

that

merely

the

in

Youth
The

begins

but

in

easy,

We

and

in

genius
A

not

be

at

23

the

of

obstacles

many
his

not

shall

matter

activity.

the

what

be

sure,

really

child's

more

of this

it is

dream

genius,

true

in

rather

privilege, and
keep

ning,
plan-

to

word,
is it

"

of

form

when

conscious

planning,

to

here

discuss

average

of

phenomenon,
call

would

child

marks.

same

work
his

time, he

has

it is for

most

as

duty,

and

in his future

how

he

begins

torture

path clearly ahead

know

is

age,

talk

the

it is

no

it is their

tender

We

be

with

false,apparent

we

The

plain
him

reminding

does

that

any

by

child's age

"planning"

dream,

apart.
also

great.

will

sees

child's

for

great

past

can

associate

"

times, is particularly

There

sense.
we

way

there

in

interest

concentrated

most

scarcely

genius feels vaguely that

true

anxiety

and

usual

contemplating

quotation

and

he

the

is

time

same

whole.

several

age

children

All

Chapter

something

the

genius

manner.

know

in

then

must

the

age

the

as

genius's

that

genius's dream

course.

for

humanity
a

at

of

vitallyinfluenced

While

concern,

At

orderly

dream?

and

in

not

nebulous

vague,

not

create.

the

in

not

than

to

period.

sad

are

lives.

our

affects
of

We

genius.

in

We

genius.

to

this part

to

topic is of

constraint, mentioned

least

at

the

age

period

that

at

of

the

sure,

private

run

is the

effective

long

external

he

of

am

to

of

referred

We

women.

bitter,joyous and

only

phases

is

person

and

aging.

person's life,not

to

genius lives, of his relation

ways

general biography

sweet

about

the

and

as

topic

mean

of

creatures

discussion

our

talked

to

go

is destined

at

early

an
a

people. The

life,rings

of him,

in

about

his

92

age.

presentiment

admonishing

him

in his

ears.

another, he
duties.

accomplish

to

He

feels

joy

his

life

that

angel's voice,
to

be
In

wary
one

of

sense,

is bewildered

93

Age
The

actions of parents

and

the voices

aggravatedby

is

matter

and

notably short-sighteduncles. They

well-meaning relatives,

not

hear the

the wishes

consider

angel and

do

inclinations of the

and

unprofitable;they often force him to

his calling.
take steps in direct contradiction
to
Accountancy or
law are the most
frequent pathsinto which in their ignorance they
unrealistic and

young

man

direct

the

agonies they by this

realizingthe

not

man,

young

takes some
It usually
portion allotted by nature.
avenues
time, perhaps years, until he finallyleaves those unwanted
add

means

and

to

his

into his

turns

is

There
cultured

a
lucky
occasionally

Mozart

one

was

could

reasonably well-to-do, the

for

these

be

effects,as may

Educated

Mendelssohn.

and

that bears

its fruit

ponder whether
future
in
and

his work.

be that
and

Besides

there
from
The

are

the

work

is characterized

too

either do

many

seeming

the

not

unfolding
there

is

ripe man

factors,it may

opponents

is

task that is

mentioned

it in

is

lie ahead.

He

opposition from
him,
be

aspirants,and

young
great

cannot

hood
child-

cultured

by serenity.

obstacles

understand

not

opposition of older rivals

excusable;we

other

quite naturally meets

The

the

both

innate

to

might

mentioned

cases

enjoy the sheltered and

not

short-sightedparents

him.

to
interesting

played itsrole. It is thinkable that unbridled

whose

critics who

understand

the three

In

asset

an

are

is

to

Goethe

as

during childhood

happinessand serenityof

geniuses did

yet, and

unknown

genius.It

men

parents

particulardirection

man.

upbringing too

wild

of

Although this is largelydue

of those

and

give

certain

case

cultured

environment

such

of the young

common

in the

even

circumstances

under

and

means

no

undeniably beneficial
of such

the childhood

from

seen

by

advantages are

both

time

enviable

an

genius, they have

true

has

man

young

While
and materially.
spiritually
necessary

family,in addition,is

his talents. If the

develop

to

understanding and

of

man

young

his development.
recognize his giftsand promote
of these lucky ones; his father did everything

who

parents

he

own.

or

blamed
to

do

not

want

is

rivals
to

altogether,for

distinguishthe real

practicallyunmanageable.

tragic,but only

discussingcharacter

too

human

and

traits. It is the

The

94

Nature

conflict between

eternal

the

of the Genius

old

and

the arrived

young,

the

and

aspiring.
The

genius needs

young

opposition;he does

great

self-confidence

always have

not

it and

to

the

overcome

be shaken

may

in his

All this is the lot of the young

The
voice of
man.
predestination.
the angel must
be clear and insistent,
indeed, if it should help him

during that period.

In this connection

development stops

might ask

we

whether

early stage. If

there

geniuseswhose

are

so, it must

be

exceptional.
It actuallyimpliesa contradiction,since a genius who
suddenly
can
hardly be a genius.It is not easy to comprehend
stops to be one
how
the supernaturalgiftwith which
should leave
he is endowed
him,
such

cases

even

if such

and

should

be

cannot

prose

are

to

Africa

went

as
activity

it shows
in

is

exist,they

not

are

mental

or

apparent

mind, that of Arthur

my

poet

an

for old age

such occurrence

except

healthyman

to

at

that

an

principleat

come-down
The

be

may
on

due

where
came

he

The

Rimbaud.

engaged

to

an

slim

true

such

genius of

output,

both

period.At

in commercial

an

case

in the

his poetry

early age

and
pursuits,

development of

might

comes

the young

end. His is certainlya freak

abrupt stoppage
We
least,
possible.

genius in the

and

young

pathological
causes,

to

the surface. One

the finest of the

among

scarcelythinkable. And, indeed,if

doubted; despitehis

poet

derangement. For

call such

an

case,

he
his

but

genius is,

unfortunate

of the word.

sense

of an
more
strugglinggenius faces yet other perils,
He
the direction in
senses
objective,than of a personal nature.
which
the voice tells him to go, but his experience and education
young

lie,of

course,

in the immediate

spiteof his youth, he is not

his
in

The

and

unbiased.

pull him

backward.

In

is a conflict between

There

progressiveurge and his conservative education. A young genius

his first
enced
his own
self,he is too much influyears is scarcelyever
by his immediate predecessors.The greater his genius,the

faster will he shake

man.

past and

off that influence

and

value of the

earlywork varies with

Some, perhaps the majority,show an

the

earlywork

later years

the

is of

not
brilliancy

genius himself

wonders

displayhis originality.
the temperament

extraordinaryvitality,

surpassedby later
how

of the

he

was

able

to

ones.

In

produce

95

Age

the
poets in particular,
characteristic of youth and reveals unbounded

is of a charm
early work
Theoretical
vitality.
In

early age.
with

is the

With
a

there

contrast,

produce their best at an

others who
develop slower, and

scientists also
are

until their real greatness breaks through.

experience is important for the creative act.

it takes years

whom

Such

With

genuine exuberance.

of such

work

when

case

this

thought in mind,

have

we

arrived

at

the middle

age

of

genius.As with other people too, this periodbringsforth the best,

inated
periodis characterized and domby the fact that,often at least,the positionof the man being
settled to a certain degree,he does not need to fightas violentlyas
brilliantwork.

if not

the

in the

early years. The

most

he is free

and

The

the individual
originality,
follow it without having

to

is now

way
to

fear

lished
estab-

opposition.

with

authority.
there goes a
this gain in authorityand some
With
peace of mind
loss,that of youthfulimpetuosity.It is interestingto study this
change in lyricpoets. While the early work is mainly of love, the
of later years become
the poems
natural subjectof a young
man,
and the
dealing often with nature
settled,more
sophisticated,
more
in the soul of the poet. A similar change
varied reactions it inspires
is found in the works
of all great men,
only not so obvious. This is
flows abundantly, and
the happiest time in their lives. Inspiration
of the
with the experiencegained through the years, execution
The
is substantial,and the accompanying
easily.
projectscomes
output
the credit and honor,
strain scarcelynoticeable. Whatever
they are received gracefullyand happily,with the knowledge that
only grudgingly, he is not
they are fullydeserved. If credit comes
too
disturbed;he feels with confidence that missing acknowledgment

He

can

now

create

will follow

Those

in later years
later years! For most

at

or

least after his death.

they are fraught with

much
sadness. The
is the feelingthat inspiration
is flowing
worst
less and less copiously.
This is natural. Even
the greatest have only
much
all is said and done, the mission is accomso
plished.
to
say; when
A painteris relatively
well off,he can
kind of
do the same
landscape again and again,inspirationfor a theme plays only a
minor

role. A

the fact and

composer

reduce

and

great

writer

their output.

men

are

badly off.

I talked

about

Some

accept

this in another

The

96

connection

in

Chapter

Nature

of

8. Others

the

Genius

give in

don't

tinue
easily;
they con-

so

their work
There

despitethe danger of becoming repetitious.

another matter.
The
technique they have acquired in

is

the

course

of years becomes
patterned.Except for the
very much
very great there is the danger of the techniquebecoming somewhat
is found. The late operas of Strauss
if new
stale,even
subjectmatter

are

poor

copies of

early masterpieces.Often

his

if the
this,especially

mention

has

man

critics will

acquired

fame.

not

he

Yet

himself

knows, and this is nearly as bad as having others tell him

Much
so.
pain and trouble is hidden in the late years of a genius.
Some
are
spared all this,either by early death, or by a nearly
inexhaustible
into

well.

directions. These

new

remarkable

of Methuselah
of

those

are

the

are

to

and

grow,

could

from

them.

Some

the

mentioned

I have

influence

lyricpoet

of age on
creative
older. He
he grows

as

much

too

not

so, the

serious

world

insisted

on

established

the world

further

well suited for

His

work.

in

curious
it

saves

study of

become

verses

is

the

still more

sophisticated,
haps
per-

very

of love pens now

the tone
of the essays is

rhymes, and

changes

To

dismay

their

tragedy of

direction that had

had been
a

at

bard

new

their heart's blood.

new

man;

this

the

frightening
pace.

genius
No

in their

slumbered

very

appears,

half

Within

with

new

life of the system

wonder

also
hostility,

budding minds.

that

mentioned

they feel

century

conservatives.

graduallybecome

revolutionaries

threateningthe
techniques,
the

the work

the

but

they who

with

age

to

ing
genius'sold age is the changwho
around
him. When
the ones
they were
young,
changing the world. Slowly, they succeeded, and

Lastly,one

But

an

melancholy, full of the foreboding of death,

flavor. Except for the fact that lyricpoets
often of a religious
often reach an old age, the trend I have pictured is typical.

only

and

as

becoming
originally
buoyant

littlephilosophical
essays
not

even

men:

on

few.

stay young

even

this

admire

aspect of ridicule.

an

serious

we

developing

Beethoven, in

with

subjectsbefitting
only young
discrepancy arises,and only the timeless grace of
extent

working

continue

give the impressionthat

harm

not

who

eternally
young;

feature,quite astounding

continue

They

Happiest

ideas and

they had

new

built

hostile toward

earlier,
can

be traced in

20

ILLNESS

This
the

connection

and

bad

of

health.

the

health

bad

is

consider

great

quite

not

It

in the

achievements

to

answer

of that
of

these

that

guessed,

the

what

on

we

not

other

will

big country

large

that,

as

directly,let
health,

the

or

concern,

posterity.
in

that, if the

thinking mainly

were

we

result,

remark

us

and

have

duration,

for

working

if he

much

achieve

not

they

relativelyshort

good

obvious,

of

founder

The

us
on

seemed

and

that

and

their

great

fact

very

group,

concern

thrive

men

military leaders,

in mind,
a

is for

other

that, however

out

of

mostly

are

question

our

group.
a

the

the

returns,

world, the

of the

does

this group

passing

hinges

statesmen,

pointed

level of the

the

below

While

Offhand

have

might

answer

selfish benefits

often

and

are

health

like this: is good

you

The

mainly

was

eye

accomplishments

they

also because

achievements?

immediate

with

first involves

businessmen.

their

health

good

certainly fascinating.

of

some

as

on

achievement.

posterity.The

immediate

is

great

simple.

so

is concerned

kind

famous

to

obvious, but,

situation

One

conducive

discussion

and

of medicine

question something

our

more

seems

answer

question

brief

health, meaning

standpoint

the

insert

to

and

genius

From

formulate

might

right place

between

its artistic interest

I

or

the

be

to

appears

is

prime

ter
minis-

handicapped

by

illness.
Let

us

then

of

sense

the

kind

be

record,
Riemann

suffered

their

died
from

he

is

there

sure,

but

word.

have

number

in

been
is

of tuberculosis
chronic

the

general,

engaged

the

group,

Here

In

consider.

we

particularly if
To

the

second

the

to

turn

will

answer

scientist

experimental
great

or

scientists

overwhelming.

not
at

dyspepsia

the
and

98

age

of

insomnia

depend

needs

The

again

good

stricted
re-

on

health,

techniques.

manual
with

the

in

geniuses

poor

health

mathematician

thirty-nine, and

Pascal

all his life. In

general,

Illness

there is

callingof

the

with

sobrietyassociated

certain

99

scientist,

to
genius is no exception.The very greatest are known
have lived quiet,moderate, uneventful
lives,and good health often
such habits.
goes along with
The
a
picture changes radicallyfor artists.Purely statistically,
bad
in the lives of great artist;
of illness is found
large incidence
health is quitefrequent in that group, at least it has been up to the
in the
this situation is going to be modified
present. Whether
future, is uncertain.
Great artistic genius and illness do not
necessarilygo together;

the

and

should

statement

my

there

were

not

besides

health

in excellent

many

in that way.

misunderstood

be

the

many

In

fact,

in

poor

health.
To

begin with,
justas

in

artist does

an

nocturnal, turbulent

other stimulants,sexual

is

sex

of the main

one

conducive

not

natural

they

is

and

characteristic

those

create

da Vinci

first may
of

outlook

own

is

sick

genius is of

has

man

not

again
at

find

we

romantic

the

exceptions: in

later age, in others it

leavingperiodsof
will

with

might

repose

have

and

stamp

which

flects
re-

generallyvalid,

not

typicalexample, Leonardo
perhaps Saint-Saens.

type; his work

own

outlook

is wild
on

life.

his bodily sufferings

disposition,

troubled
naturally

harmonize

called classical:

be

serene

life.While

on

verified. Goethe

the man's
tumultuous, again reflecting

itself only

iron

of illness is

geniusesin good

between

another, in the field of music

would

Here

difference

serious,dignifiedwork

In contrast,

this is

All
artist's inspiration.

an

health. The

in bad

the rule is often

Such

of

sources

good health, so that the incidence

to

the creator's

and

was

often
an
irregular,
operatingrooms,
life,abuse of nicotine, alcohol and
in a sense
a natural
ment
accompaniare
pointed out in the previouschapter,

consequence.

There
health

excesses

artist'slife.As

an

of

way

tist;
scien-

the work

with

connected
regulatedlifeis automatically

laboratories and
libraries,

of

life of

live the sedate

not

serenityof the
some

cases

might have

classical artist.

illness manifested
been

intermittent,

relaxation,again in others the genius's

conquered

his

There
bodily sufferings.

is

Nature

The

100

infinite

of the Genius

varity here, offering wealth

of material

medical

for the

psychologist.
in fact,
The examples I wish to quote might not be new
to you;
Yet they often haunt me
sufferers
they are partly well known.
as
little to the weird
a
surrounding the
contributing not
mystery
of genius.The impressionthat bad health lent
problem of the man
achieve what
these men
be
to
to
a helping hand
they did cannot
suppressed.
in
In the past tuberculosis
has been
frequently encountered
Of course,
its generalincidence was
so
geniuses.
great that is is not
in
the great. I am
of its victims among
not
surprisingto find many
whether
its occurrence
possession of statistical figuresto show
the same
the great was
that in the mediocre
or
as
larger.
among
mention
Tuberculosis
has been called the poets' illness. Let me
as
Keats, Schiller and Moliere
examples. Among musicians Chopin
student

is

as

well

well-known

much

less

It is certain that in the future

case.

whether
tuberculosis;

there will be
the

will reduce

this circumstance

be seen.
of great poets and musicians, remains
to
of the illnesses
the situation is similar,it being one
syphilis

number

With

Heine

in the decrease.
Proust

suffered

caused

his

condition
a

the

as

and

from

earlydeath.
may

Schubert

serious
From

advanced
trouble

autopsy

cirrhosis of the liver. Swift

and

of

attacks

recurrent

which

organic illnesses

other

who

Mendelssohn,

hereditarybasis,died of it. The

the disease.

bronchiale

of asthma

case

among

mentioned"

be

afflicted with

were

afflicted

was

of Beethoven

suffered from

heart

revealed

chronic

on

giddiness.Dostoyevsky

ear
was

epileptic.
alcoholism

Chronic

been

have

must

frequent condition

of

that it promotes
be assumed
geniuses in the past, and, if it can
feel reassured that geniuses will not
be
creative activity,
we
may
altogetherextinct in the future. Poe, E. T. A. Hoffmann, van Gogh
and
a

Toulouse-Lautrec

belong

to

the illustrious list.Baudelaire

was

hashish-smoker.
These

are

only

excerpts

from

genius.Is there

the former
activity,

also

have

long list.We

of illness

possibleincreased incidence
of the

owing

to

causalitybetween

promoting

the latter? This

hinted

at

the

the way
of living
illness and creative

is,of

course,

the

Illness

crucial

problem.
I

of the

the solution
One

before

to

ative.
questionin the affirm-

the

answer

possiblefactors that might contribute

general consideration. It has

genius is altogetheran abnormal

abnormal
species,
to

that such

in the

not

higher from

the
an

to

question.
been

rather

that

deviation

inclined

am

think of three

can

is

101

individual

specimen of

derogatory sense, rather

It

the standard.
should

show

pointed

ing
surpris-

too

signsof

also other

our

in his excessive
be

cannot

out

mality.
abnor-

pathologicalcondition manifesting itself in illness is

just another abnormality, rounding off the frame within which
ity
creation becomes
If creation is conditioned
by abnormalpossible.
of the organism, then illness belongs to the characteristics of
genius.
The
is more
second
restricted,and rests on practical
aspect
is gathered in turmoil,
considerations. Stimulus
creative work
to
The

but execution
Some

of the work

needs

and

rest

have

the necessary will power

let seclusion follow debaucheryand

to

let the

alternate:

two

provide the

for

calmness

even
are
writing,paintingor composing.
work
in this fashion: the Hungarian chemist Louis

night in

dawn

and
have

not

only

his researches

to

retire

to

necessary

Winkler

his

spent

laboratory at

peacefulsolitude.
A period of illness comes
self-discipline.
out

carry

this

coffeehouse

they

scientists who

There

many

of mind.

collected frame

in

Others
then

do
as

godsend.
The
Not

of
is

quiet hours spent in bed are beneficial for creative work.

turbing
only do they provide the leisure and the absence of all disbut the realization of illness produces a feeling
influences,

resignationwhich
the notion that by

the tumult, haste

belong

the

and

active

is
a

one

vis

of the factors

of creative

it
activity:

major, so-to-speak,he has been

greed of the world, that he does not

and

cut

off

really

busy daily life,but is destined to live

apart in solitude. This knowledge produces a powerful incentive
for the sick man
to create, in compensation for his seclusion,something
that does not
belong to dailylife,rather to the realm of
beauty to be appreciatedby future generations.
have
factor in the field of chemistry.Illnesses,
a
Lastly we
especiallythose of bacterial or virus origin,but also others,are
to

The

102

with

associated
the

to

of

phase
of

the

brain,

their

of

it is

being,

analogy,

substances

field

for

infection

before

an

aria

latter

the

while

idea, the

as

Yet

and
in

necessary

The

idea

is

by

hero

fertile

With

genius.

his

Leverkiihn

to

genial heights

to

of

his

creative

genius.
good

The

start.

scientist.

or

in

not
to

the
when

mist

plan

single

difficulties

no

his mind:

to

semicon-

literary

strains

of

the

the

crisis

aria;

comes,

remains.
toxic

between
be

It is

easy.

animals

use

is destined

coming

has

actually

with

During

composed

not

acute

composing

engaged,

relation

studies,

biochemistry

regarding

blue

work,
the

writer

of

period

easily, he

alternates

activity will
other

many

through

next

from

has

come

into

concerning

for

of

soaring

he

thus

While

evaporates

it is certain"

problem
be

so

By

quite generally

busily engaged

be

to

seems

flashes

germ

Experiments
illnesses

it

of

although

idea

work.

Think
may

imagination,

sudden

scientific

alcohol.

of

his

originate

may

man

melodies.

inventing

sciously, a

the

our

in all his life. Now

in

his

know

created

origin. This

exposes

explain

to

fever.

by

unrest

his

in

Mann

ideas

inspired

feverish

bar

or

Thomas

We

Hoffmann

exerted

problem

human

collapse.

accompanied

illness

the

merely

average

influence

toxic

is

genius.

and

hormonal

or

into

order

in

final

his

Generally,

the

research

the

Poe

as

probably

is

bacterial

perspicacity,

luetic

the

under

of

future

such

writers

influence

similar

toxic

wonted

work

their

with

first

the

during

the

in

lants
stimu-

as

stimulation

dreams

different

be

to

fantastic

that

of

much

likely

this

act

to

narcotics

of

result
wild

and

excitation

quite

certain

for

the

While

known

are

other

and

alcohol

do

as

action.

nature

which

substances

toxic

Genius

of the

Nature

of

to

scarcely

for

solve

very

effects

sick

the
this

in

ble,
possi-

purpose.

particular

genius

might

21

INSANITY

There

is

deserves

particular subject

consideration.

is

It

the

insanity, a subject that attracted

The

first notion
exist

might
certain

of

his

geniuses. Certain,

strike

who

one

any

excessively

odd.

reads

Not

they

are

eccentric.

how

the

author

mention

there

that

could

the

possess

paintings, the

of

imagination

beasts

these

in

more

observer:

in

than

bizarre

of

independently
lunacy.

positions, shown

of

some

the

literary products

writings of Nietzsche,
fiction,of

the

he

A.
or

sane

but

These
to

E.

Poe,

In

not.

are

at

instances

indicate

insanity, otherwise
is able

to

genuinely

take

to

bad,

wonders

of

many

Guernica,
modern

that

to

art,

impresses
beings,
matic
enig-

impression

an

by

the

as

the

the

way,

of
in

triptych, The

their

impressions

Morgenstern

time

close

that

the

it could

not

produce

103

to

works

from

are

being

bears

were

infrequent,

not

only

abound

in

crazy.

explained
of

fantastic

originators

not

genius
be

reader; studying

example

an

whether

such

poetry

same

in

similarly impress
or,

are

Bosch.

of Christian
the

such

masters,

wonders

one

delightfulpoems

humor,

old

must

or

performing

conclusion,

same

of Lust, by Hieronymus

Other

actually

the

to

It

of

implications,resulting,

picture's artistic value,

is led

One

contemplating
Garden

the

few.

incoherent

of

sensual

work

of

the

modernity

mere

the

picture peculiar

opinion of

conglomeration

strange

humans,

and

works

relation

good

think

or

one's

and

One

to

Or

omachia

Minotaur

actions, all this full of curious

sheer

kind.

genius

his characters

Micawber!

or

that

improbably

are

Jingle

of

that

such

add,

some

upon

(Lombroso).

past

that

might

typical examples. Whatever

is

the

and

only that they

of

in the

contemplating

or

Dickens

Think

between

observer

reading

quasi-pathological characters
Picasso's

attention

I say,

touched

not

relation

unbiased

an

from

stems

have

we

some

by

what

relation
means

distinctlyabnormal

The

104

character.

imply

The

word

Nature

relation

the

Genius

in this connection

abnormal

simple deviation

of

from

normality,but

does

rather

only

not

intimate

an

the

in the medical sense.

This, as
mentally abnormal
I said,is our
first impression.Is there anything more
behind it,or
is the notion deceptive?
It has been
depende
pointed out previouslythat the genius himself,inof his work, is looked upon
askant by others because
of his strongly abnormal
characteristics. The
average
person
is
and
his
instinct
that
the
he has come
quite right,
man
senses,
in contact
with is basicallydifferent from
him, different in all
mental
characteristics. Not
in the lucky position to
are
many
to

such

make

ourselves

with

That
to

as

biographiesand

difference

he

in the

is destined

to

have

ones

content

to

letters.

direction

as

far

genius is possessedby

the

to

express;

of

schizophrenic features.

assume

ideas

less fortunate

observations, we

develop and

abnormality

can

go

his mind

is often

wholly occupied with them so that he is not accessible to the

influence of daily life which
constantlyaffects others. All his
devote
his life.
thoughts lead into that channel to which he must
There
the

note

To

at

to

receive

impressions of daily life;a person conversing with

normal.
Here
moments
might find him perfectly
we

common

him

relaxes,and is free

his mind

be times when

may
such

the

split personality characteristic of paranoiac patients.

be sure, the personalityof the genius is only remotely reminiscent
of the clinical
where

extreme

difference
The

reason

picture,and
loses

it does

its control.

not

One

degenerateto
might say, it

the
is

in

degree, not in essence.

server;
imagination of a schizophrenic patient surprisesthe obit appears

detachment

reasonable

more

from

the

outside

make

full

use

if allowance

world.

is made

for

his

No

healthy person would

the cuff of his coat
ever
use
as
a spittoon;
only a schizophrenic
who
closes his eyes to the outside world
discover a similarity
can
between
cuff and a spittoon,and hit upon
the somber
a
cality
practiof using the former to save
himself a walk
the lavatory.
to
However, imagination and inventiveness were
quoted as the most
important expedient of a genius for creative work; he, too, would
be unable

to

of the

if he
ability

were

closelywatch-

The

106

them

certain

The

Nature

traits of

rudimentary

close

relation

the

of

Genius

genius such

as

have

we

cussed.
dis-

between

genius and schizophreniais not

of superficial
such as might result from
only a matter
similarity,
vivid description
of the genius'scharacter. This may
be seen
a
from
consideration
of another
the manica
frequent psychosis,
depressivetype. Except for entirelysuperficial
resemblances, no
of its symptoms
with the traits of a genius
significant
similarity
be

can

found.

the
establishing

In

farther. Here

relations

tread

we

on

refer

lies. We

this

to

up

be

to

occurrence

others.

If

the

the

to

are

and

relation

expect such an
geniuses than among
further

turbance
dis-

might

causes

case.

natural, considering the

seem

of work,

turbance
dis-

should

realistic,
one

some

type

tell where

if the

frequent among
is schizophrenic,then
other possiblemetabolic

known:

character

While
looked

considered

not

upon

which

we

life and

others

not

are

obvious, but

less instructive.

not

as

more

is

only

of mental

occurrence

development of the clinical

Examples
man's

point

and

statisticaldata could

the actual

step

one

go

constitution

during
lead

can

historyof geniuses.Indeed,

in the life
surmised

with
to

one

dangerous ground,

more

combined
rigorousanalysis,
the truth

mentioned,

more

as

less

or

major crime

concerned

are

sign of

committed
The

There
disposition.

insane

justifyit

with.

insanity,suicide

generally as
in

even

or

normal

incurable

are

motives

individual,such

disease. It is

of suicide for the

causes

be

may

not

these

genius

are

position
mostly frustration,serious disappointment or an overexalted disnot
that, judged calmly and objectively,would
causes
justifythe act. It is correct, therefore,to consider these cases
under the generalheading of insanity.
Purelymedically,I would
say, the situation is

for

angle

no

what

is

not

yet clarified"

perfectlyclear

situation for which

case

of

Otto

Weininger

nearly tautological,
From
practical
a

statement

in medicine?

improvement

act; if it is stillcommitted, then

The

it

was

must

be

is

the
possiblejustifies

in

mentioned

state

of

ment.
derange-

in another

con-

Insanity
the

nection:

bad

reviews
Kleist

stringentreason.
did
of

receive

not

the

insanity.There

Such
Let

us

situations

to

turn

now

Byron

degree that

by
for

some

others

did

The
disposal.

rather

an

carried

him

compelling that

to

justifyingour

death.

temperament.

when

away;

writing
in

againstreligion,or

his

as

divided

the

are

his

amazing

more

ripen

nearly

appears
to

mental

had

always

as

admirer:

greatest

mentality.It

assumption that he

which

language at

Wagner's

personalityshould

for

opponent,

the strongest

use

himself

of

case

such

man

mosity
positivelypossessedby his ani-

writingsagainstWagner

typical

act

an

semi-suicide,the

unrestrained

annihilate

to

in his earlier
essays he shows
a

also

cases.

was

hesitate

not

his work

writings which, irrespectiveof their

he

his intention

he

purpose

for:

hoped

in his Antichrist

as

against Wagner,
and

of

emotions

particularcause,

because

and strongly emotional

to
extravagant
of his essays appear
have been comto
posed

are

His

poet.

clinical

to

high literaryvalue,
a

suicide

of

certainlyno

were

involving a nearly certain

out

Nietzsche's

I mentioned

such

committed

too

also the instances

the fate of

was

received

appreciation he had

are

exposing himself

his work

107

tient,
pa-

been

the

that his
paranoiac type. There exists,by the way, the possibility
his excessive
insanitywas
progressive paralysis,in which
case
be traced to the
emotionality
may
before the outbreak
pallidum much

Chapter

20.

Take

the

study of

his
that

appears

is

be

may

There
was

Gogh.

van

exaggeratedly bold
he

was

is

case

works

I have

not

Schiller. He

of

across;

to

be

and

are

and

led
the

the end

is

tendencies
are

and

the

and

clusion
con-

assumption
of his life.
his

literary
of the

of his work
of his time.

similar in character.

openly rebuffed

was

frustrated

to

certainlyone

this character

the romantic

his time

Treponema

biography

analyze, since

contemporaries which

reason

his

technique we

to

of

illness,
as
explainedin

by

Hyperion

come

appreciated in
had

Both

difficult

more

partlyexplainableby
are

of the

mentally anomalous,
by his insanitytoward

relativelysmall. His

exalted works

most

He

of

be verified

to

Holderlin's
output

case

influence

toxic

this circumstance

by

have

might
finally

at

event

early

an

is

not

was

is

case

genius

of

one

be

to

than

more

of

music

average

the

can

really

appreciate
a

and

advantages

little

about

roam

the
where

that

and

knowledge

that
is

of

are

missing.

forced

genuine

his

The

person

to

it

way

that
let

our

this

All

style.
a

and

music,

eccentric

an

in

matic
enig-

musician.

clearly

illuminates

we

and
his

romantic
which

his

designation

shows

only

tragic

reason

fascinating

mysterious

extravagantly

It

that
the

appreciation

true

drawbacks.

subject

and

diagnosis

post-mortem

is

the

for

deserves

work

statement

his

whom

with

Kreisleriana

cycle

no

disease.

he

His

which

disposition

precisely

weird

has

venture

like

his

lover

might

sounds

others.

Hoffmann's

one

and

composers

ways;

understanding

the

geniuses

expected,

many

many

Genius

paranoiac
in

out

those

Among

the

of

possibly

broke

age

instructive.

in

his

aggravated

Schumann

its

Nature

The

108

is:

we

it

has

know

tion
imagina-

IV

GENIUS

AND

HUMAN

SPECIES

22
While
there

are

few

off

From
we

Certain

unit,
The

first

I surmise

been

no

women

as

in

whom

section

human

relation

species.

the

to

logical
bio-

follow.

to

in that

smile,

illustrious

little

are

group?

indignantly, or

entirely

not

were

let

added.

are

known:

Creative

music

to

productive
those, who,

have

survived.

has

de

correct,

Painting
let
is

us

only

reputation
experimental

is

field

for

like

corresponding

been

or

mention

field

Cassatt

Mary

exceptionally

I have

science

heard
finds

111

of

males,

Sappho

which

in

tried

found

be

called

in

was

few

and

Kathe

past

of

women

Kollwitz.
the

women:

relatively many

the

is

Browning

very

is Chaminade.

pursue

mentioned

Elizabeth

by

We

number

writers

Sand,

but

are

may

whose

and

women

George

have

is literature.

women

poetess

there

women,

criteria

definition,

our

The

Sevigne,

that

say

main

our

profession,

money-making

before; Marquise
be

of

us

highly gifted

and

many

according

most

work

with

will

famous

quite appreciable. There

one

this

you

practically all geniuses

found

statement

many

clearly disregard

note

present

to

the

in

subjects

are

readers

who,

and

geniuses. The

may

the

question why

if my

as

past

few

extremely

whose

genius and

dispel misunderstanding,

to

the

writing

heading

easily

not

are

to

will

fair.

order

united,

mind

going

are

rough

call it

form

women

not

in

we

now,

up

genius, which

in

considering genius

is the

topic

disapprovingly,
In

have

these

take

of

work

we

give

might

should

man,

some

least

To

we

is it that

How

example

when

mind

to

first

better

partly psychological, partly anthropological, that

aspects,

comes

matters

genius fairly exhaustively,

We

the

The

mean.

discussion,

of

man

of

problem

the

what

see

our

at

the

the

left open.

matters

story.

our

specified.

men.

discussed

tackling

round

will

have

we

before

of

GENIUS

WOMAN

Science,
women

only
ticularly
parcul-

The

112

tivators,and

here

ner.

As

are,

of course,

is inevitable:

in them

more

some

can

find reasons?

we

recent

it has also
itself,
later in

suited

not

problem is not

Chapter

This

find
female
then

be

shall

If you

only

united

question
of interest
be

to

tioned
men-

different

the
The

of

lack

of

dimensions

the

compared
gists
anthropolo-

women,

occasion, and

on

be

to

appears

male

and

geniuses would

female

direct result of that difference.

It is hard
we

in

brains.

and

cranes

is heard

statement

it verified

have

to

24.

one
pointing out the possible reasons,
of the mental faculties of
supposed inferiority
men.

conclusion

genius.The

In

with

The

far-reachingconsequences

more

classical

Lise Meit-

ones

be added.

reason

The

the

ones

impressive,although there

too

that could
for

are

not

great

the

among

list is

names

women

the

among

all those features that constitute the

is then,
in

of the Genius

Curie, and

see, the

can

you

have

we

of Madame

example

Nature

to

along with

go

the

in that

statement

it holds in certain restricted senses,

see,

around

look

among

generality.As

but

acquaintance,you will

your

generally.

not

observe

not

As a matter
compared with men.
of fact, a poor
judgment, an accordinglygreat credulity,and a
lack of understanding for cultural values is typicalfor the majority
a

in
intelligence

lesser

of

between

geniuses.This
have
Women

They

men.

before
food

to

men

make

they
like

not

have
to

an

in

play and

male
of fe-

invalidates the argument.

be

general are

They

the
not

living.Still,men

more

alone

connection.

only

women

than
eminently practical,more
so
for the real needs of life,
mentioned
as was
to

eye

geniuses among

others.

clothing,both for

and

enough,

have

another

in

that

say

known

are

of

ate,
only moder-

explainthe virtual nonexistence

not

circumstance

for

look

to

be

exists,it could

lesser number

It could

men.

little

women.

the difference

might explain a

than among

We

and

men

granted that

and

in all these respects there is very

people. Moreover,

difference
Even

as

women

take

husband

of the

care

and

the

family.I

practical;
they have
are

more

house, of

to

do

not

be in order

leisurely,and

curiously

in their

leisurelypursuits,but also during work,

dispositionfor humor, jokes and games. They

are

closer

to

children

in that

sense

than

women.

Nature

The

114

the

woman,

mother

true

of creative

kind

the

In

remained

of

course

unchanged.

of

all

countries

this country
by outside

earn

money

probably not
questionwhether
the

fact remains, and

has

such

Leaving
not,

or

of

duties

the

up

in educational

the

tion
frac-

utopisticidea of having

state,

while

children

might be realized in the

This might have a bearing on
our
problem at hand in
woman
genius could arise in such a community with
back
probabilitythan today. In Chapter 24 we will come
brought

other

and

work,

impression prevailsthat the working

the

in

tered
highly sheltoday about one
her

situation is desirable

not

gradually

different in that respect.

too

in the future. Socrates'

will increase

has

attitude

women

from
her, at least partially,

women

partake

history that

emancipation of

The

are

alone the

women

human

earlier times. In

positionof
third

such

in this attitude of

ponder possiblechanges

to

slowly removed

and

mentalityincompatiblewith

activity.

It is of interest
woman.

has

of the Genius

are

future.

centers

that

greater
this
to

matter.

the situation

Returning to
be

may

It
a

listed

was

permanence

of the

Clearly a

that
satisfy

men

possiblylarge safetyfactor

family.A

one

one

as

why

reasons

whose

woman

men

some

is easier satisfied than

for

permanence.

She

other

in

ways

and

with

her

make

it

means

and

her

man

the
to

husband's

to

more

that she has been

look

direct

joy associated with

her

more.

or

forth

concerning desire

it necessary

immortality.Her

and

quite obvious

preservingher

of the

for

children

find

be

might

duty it is to bring

raise children

not

by raising

five children

crave

and

will

need

in this respect

immediate

more

thought

for
part of this essay, the urge
of the basic criterions of a genius.

majorityof

said that the

was

second

the

In

added.

today,another

it is found

as

that

for
nection
connection
con-

successful

for posterity.
One
qualities

mainsprings of creative activityis

thus

nonexistent

in her.

is the observation that

of this exposition
logicalconsequence
degree
approaching in some
nearly always highly giftedwomen,
In certain instances we
masculine.
of a genius,are
the nature
A

have

proof of

scientists

en
womGeorge Sand. Eminent
nearly always plain or have definitelymasculine

that

are

masculinity,as

in

Woman

features.
their

They

are

abnormal,
connection

here

ways.

on

with
borderline

half

actually

sexual

primary

the

genius,
fields,

it

115

best
is

with

producing

be

to

of

sense

these

and

physically

men,

happening

organs
in

Genius

the

female.
word

unusual

If
is

Nature

women.

types,

mentally,

unusual

the

pression,
ex-

justified
is

in

playing
in

two

23

APPARENT

discussed

Having
children,
marks.

and

must

Many
the

with

pointed
have

learn

enough
early
of

the

at

of

if

sure,

technical

ability
be

originalitycannot
thing stands

lose

not

In

is the

most

good
have

jump

the

two,

true

and

and
is
one

in

call

cases

some

the

that, while
shows

can

more

or

heard,

saw

to

be

perceived;

child

true

confusion

genius:
should

and

of

smartness,

bring
this is
apparent

by

out
no

the

to

what

parents

difference

we

often

The

main

generally

smart,

easy.
is

between

specialized ability. In fact, the

116

genius.

means

prodigy

in

found

not

close

wonder

child

prodigy?

quickly, have

learn

remarkably

smart

child

apparent

genius. No
a

boys

production. We

pupils,

come

true

scrutiny

closer

the

young

creations.

of the

avoid

the

degree

abilities

conclusions

to

of

excellent

are

for

to

experience

have

childhood

it is

an

parents.

many

unusual

an

These

just outlined

so

yet

at

child, and,

they

feature

marvel

perception, and

average

what

these

want

we

characteristic

They

memory.

difference

the

chief

children.

Only

production,

lot of

the

it is

cases

other

essential

as

sight of this fact, if

disappointment,
What

out

his

imitative

in

expected

and

the

reproduce

to

they

was

people

written

These

works

It

cannot

poets

instance.

from

amaze

other

require the

to

seem

what
one

great

observation

distinguish them

memory

however

in

Perspicacity

once.

good

One

that

love, for

of

realm

of

verses

before.

childhood.

poetry,

essentially imitating the

course,

only

Some

reflections

the

in

Especially

miracle.

contain

age

adults, in

are,

toil.

by

prodigies,

rapidity and

instinct

by

grasp

quotation

mentioned

been

their

in

productions

severally that they

out

to

their

in

child

true

on

of

discussion

prodigies

astounding

an

the

to

child

touch

must

we

with

geniuses develop

world

turn

now

things that have

certain

repeat

PRODIGY

specific,of

more

discussing these,

In

so

we

women,

be

to

or,

CHILD

latter

Child

Apparent
does

need

not

be

to

Prodigy

he is often

smart,

117

indifferent

an

pupil.A

boy

has a
particularlygood on standard examinations, who
high intelligencequotient,and is good at spellingis quite likely
only an apparent prodigy. They are fine specimens of boys, and it
but just
would
be wrong
look at them
to
or
derisively,
ironically
who

as

is

is it

wrong

than

geniuses.By this

call them

to

good, since

is then

painful disappointment

harm

more

is done

unavoidable.

early genius is quite often far from being

but he produces something,
he is often quiet and retiring,
smart,
and
this is the main
being
point. Entirelyby himself, without
In

the

contrast,

true

will

write

that

group

might fade
special ability

with

asked

goaded, he

or

Even

essays.

during

the

does

not

early years

the

much,

mean

profession.A

than

predictionis

diagnosis

sure

the

come,

quality of the

paintingor writing

average

talent for

that it indicates

except

correct

and

years,

write

or

may

difficult. It is the

be

may

music

compose

disappointment

might help; justbetter

that

work

among

poetry,

particular

scarcelypossible,the

difficulty

kind
in the analogous problem concerning
as
being of the same
best criterion
is insistent
outstanding activities of adults. The
creative activity,coming spontaneously, even
against the wishes

of parents
The

teachers.

or

of

number

considerable;it
talented

If he

new.

fellow

the

are

is

is

of the

he

more

are

short
this
a

will

fertile brain. Even

close

our

and
mentally indifferent,

that will make

no

is

not

good

cluttered

consideration

family and

use

for

society.They

some

are

of this
up

what
are

for

holds

same

we

love

children;
But

worse.

They
fertility.

with

unimportant
call duties

we

free

if

and

their dullness,

to

eyes

their ranks. The

unbiased, their mind

details,they have

and

open
cannot

we

percentage

ourselves, to

very

ponder the causes.

virgin field,highly receptive to everything

widely spread among

there

the causes
for
are
eighteen.What
it is certainly
a
phenomenon, and the more

creatures,

majority

highly

many

within
insignificance

is

ones

is moderate,
by heredity dull, his receptivity

is made

little use
our

is

how

note

to

true

to

children, the

loves

child's mind

so

thirteen
For

phenomenon?

into

with

compared

cases

indeed,
interesting,
dwindle

children

time, say, from

person

is

apparent

to

follow

to

their

The

118

Nature

of the Genius

natural

their inborn
inclinations,

Where

this desire

meets

the
exceptionalgifts,
that

form

Viewed

of

longer

fertile brain,

result

if

even

fail to present

cannot

brightnessand

from

curiosity,their desire

blessed with

not

itselfin

have

acuity we

been

precisely

picturing.

this

angle, an able and clever child does

enigmatic. The
problem is rather,why

appear

not

advantage gained during the earlyyears disappearso

Life does not
wait long to show
child that if he
a
in the

world"

do what

cannot

succeed

he wants,

in

but

that interest because

he will

make

not

with

much

customary

do

must

do. If he is interested in numbers

the fanciful edifice called

the

what

then

sense"

is best

mathematics, the science

Should

to

will

soon

but,

alas,life is

add

that

to

give

lose

all interest

in his science?

such
It

stayingin

outlook

an

was

up

of mathematics,

he insist on

giftedyouth, with

our

he

bids him

field,he might consider the positionof a bank clerk which,

circumstances,might lead him to that of a bank director.
need

to

wants

magic combinations,

mathematics, then it

money.

all

soon?

the world

in their

and

any

does

this

succeed

learn.

to

under
Do

ahead,

beautiful

the

toy,

play.
If his interest is writing,poetry or prose, and he appears in the
takes care
eyes of his hopeful parents a budding genius,life soon
to destroyany
higherinterest by showing him that with such fancy
a
leaningshe will not go very far. He accordinglybecomes
not

reporter.
It is this call for
an

being of these

human

average

him
distinguishes
call but
apparent

call for

from

ahead

goes

prodigy

that of the

conformity,for
the

the call from

world.

he

one;

in the direction

Should

conformity,he

being, but

true

course

life,that makes

geniuses.This

the latter does

heed

not

that

that is his destination. In the

above

make

of
child

apparent

is

missing and

he, for whatever

would
of

would

the needs

still not

average

become

follows

disobey the

reason,

better than

he

human

genius,not

having the making for it.

This

makes

correct.
basically

about
structure

it. In
of

sad

story, yet

It is

development

natural process

spite of this,we
our

the

social life

too

and

not

we

much

picturedis
can

be done

might feel guilty of accusing the

severely for something for which

Apparent Child Prodigy

it is

blame.

to

not

talk of

to

it is worth.

the

evolution

species.Some

the

of

has
it. Nobody
theory, although they wrong
the singlemolecules
constitutinga gas, yet no scientist

dislike that

people
observed
has

going

are

tion
explana-

alternative,therefore, another

an

take it for what

is offered:
We

As

119

the

their existence, the

of

slightestdoubt

in this

of similar evidence

view

being overwhelming. In

evidence

indirect

field,one

deny the basic truth of evolution.

of a principle,although its strict validity
make
now
use

cannot

We

The
geneticists.
principle
that the development of the individual, ontogenesis,is a
states
of the evolution
of the species,phylogenesis.
version
condensed

is

recentlybeing questioned by

individual,startingfrom

The

the
which
the

fertilized ovum,

permit

speciesto which

When

when

development
answered

be

believe, cannot
with

varies

are

concerned

Let

us

homo

and

race

belongs

then

say

that

less

or

In

age

period of

about

child

Up

seventeen.

in

that

age

which

we

development.
of the

member

time

the

at

with

individual

trulya

to

species

then

he

is

ancestors.

numerous

young

childhood

This, I

end?

individual

the

of

climate. His

of

of

the line of evolution

exactly;approximately

this

stages

belongs.

becomes

of his

one

comparing

to

man

sapiens at the

more

variety of

capable of reproducing itself,an

it becomes

man

through

passes

the individual

the

does

ically,
specif-

reproductive cells,more

the

roughly reproduce

to

us

some

up

the age

to

of

perhaps five

with

show
the
comparison which, carefullyexecuted, may
latter to be superior"we
are
merely giving popular expression
scientific principle.
a
to
Although externallydifferent,he at that
has retained
of those
characteristics,mostly mental
age
many
an

ape"

of
animals, in reality,
rather

of certain

and

of the

least in man,

this,a

young

ancestors.

merely

carrying

consider

this

In

so

reasoning to

brain

development

is particularly

it appears.

individual

between
than

more

separatingmental

the

presentlyexistingkinds,

Mental

sixteen is reminiscent, mentally

immediate
we

to

not

ancestors.

common

at
trailing,

According

course,

from

separatelyfrom

its ultimate

the

ages

of six

physically,of

our

physical features,
other

consequence,

we

organs.
arrive

In
at

The

120

Nature

of

the Genius

have
seemingly contradictoryresult. We
with mental
in
often endowed
are
capacities

found

those of adults. It

to

capacity

now

children

our

that

appears

What

develop into

as

it does

The

it

know

we

manner,

yieldinginstead

that

reason

from

tributes
at-

some

premises.

our

ancestors

our

species,a homo
became

to

sapientis-

frustrated

species of

the

mental

species.Unquestionably

our

today. Interpretingour

sound

not

whose

capacityin

latent

development, however,

of time,

course

superior

ways

possessionof

it follows

eminent
intellectually

an

simus, which

is

course,

various

ancestors

of

average

paradoxical,yet

of

is meant,

in

were

represent

superior to those of the

this sounds

our

that children

in

the

mediocre

gence
intelli-

conclusion

in this

unacceptable.

so

that

took

evolution

particulardirection

lies

for the
Just as genius lacks practicalsense
necessities of dailylife,
an
idealistic,
ancestors
our
similarlyamong
successful in the
have been
could
not
fantastic,dreamy mind
struggle for existence. The mind of a variant that, although of a
in

natural

lower

of

selection.

life,such

the
and

well

was
quality,
as

opposite sex,

face the

to

necessities

common

fightingenemies, killingcompetitors, attracting

in the long run
victorious by natural
remained

selection.

sexual

There

adapted

is

in favor

anthropologicalevidence

bit of

of this idea.

different

which
produced
australopithecus
pithecanthropusand meganthropus. The
subspecies,

of these

two

Our

earliest

ancestor

was

was

typical "man," carnivorous,

huntsman

two

first
and

the latter a big-toothed mild fellow, a vegetarian.When

killer;
the two
called displacement ocsubspecies met, a phenomenon
curred.
a

This
in

an

involved

that in the

was

essence

brother

is

long

meganthropus.Now,
was
to

the

that word

use

of the

more

extinction

altogetherwrong.
sapiens might

Had

deserve

with

facets;its result
pithecanthropus displacedits

process

all

run

have

we

spiritual
type
for
of

our

was

to

genius

in

of the

our

is that meganthropus

assume

if

two"

and

early ancestors"

phylogeny

we

are

our

tion
explana-

may

not

mitted
per-

be

meganthropus survived, our present homo

its name
As
with
more
justification.

happened, the latent capacity hidden

ancestors

many

sacrificed in

order

to

in the

brain

give way

to

of
a

one

of

truly

it

our

vital

24

GENIUS

Part

IV

between

of

our

the

difference

forms

future

the

main

the

with

species, and
of

problem

variety

resemble

might

VARIETY

know

we

between

elucidation

entire

that
The

sometime

in

variety that

from

him

of

discussion.

being,

into

come

as

the

the

connections

difference

possibilitythat

any

could

genius

possible

species. The

then, is there

new

human

of

the
is

question

the

the

rest

FUTURE

is concerned

essay

genius and

genius and

next

AS

present

our

records?
There
in

is

which

connection

mention
and

ancestors,

become

by

the

we

are

rare

the

the

course

of

of

established

survival, unselfishness
back

this

to

single feature
we

not

disregard it, and

moment

Are

genial

because

only

then

variety of

the

species by

sons

also

great,

were
are

well

known:

but

be

could

to

for

that
the

What
would

existing

eugenics.

to

of

sake

call, desire
We

shall

irksome

but

let

come

because
us

for

simplicity only
feature

which

for

we

the
one

choose,

representative of genial activity.

as

This

possible

at

is the

all

to

breeding. There

Bach's

have

analyze the genius, and

response

is immaterial

the

our

qualities

genius.

bred

field of

the

comprehend,

to

inherited?

is it

called

combination,

consider

craftsmanship

Such

clearly than

tried

we

of

of

chapter,

might

selection.

variety

to

easy

last

privileged individuals, as shown

belongs

genius. It

features

qualities which

more

of

think

may

potentialitiesof

factors

matter

hence

the

others, all combined.

and

irksome

mathematical,

mental

faculties

his main

among

the

phenomenon
a

discourses

our

and

Darwinian

the

question then

II of

Part

subject

latent

is whether

now

this

in certain

appear

originally present

species. This
In

their

occurrence

asking

show

of

some

lost in

of

made

was

nevertheless,

can,

between

number
sons

122

of
were

first crucial
think
are

of
great

question

producing
men

these

is small.

all

gifted, but

whose

The

stances
in-

chiefly

As

Genius

two,

PhilippEmanuel

then

we

Bnieghels, father

beins,Johann Strauss, father and

inevitable that

seems

be

of

reads

the

about

might

of his

geniuses appears
The
as

for

result of

anemia.

severe

that the anemic

so-called

normal,

in

than

realitythey

whether

see

the

among

offspring

according

One

anemic

their parents,

Assuming
of

Since, as

we

now

the anemic

have

with
seen,

gene

gene.

of the

nonanemic

their cells. The

be

of

person

the child in the

genial features

If it should

be

could

genes.

will be

The

be
find

rest,

hybrids

same

similarly,the

riage
mar-

yielda hybrid.

would

be

purebred and

quarter

majority of

possibleto

marriage, assuming that they

be

again the

must

second

lowing
in the folsplitting

Another

genes.

normal

factor,

such

two

offspringwill

will
offspring,

recessive

hybrid,
only seeminglyhealthy,in

Mendelian

representing a

cross

now

in

gene

one

gene

outwardly healthy.
that genial features behave

genius

gifted,the

of

sick, carrying only anemic

half of the

one

show

are

is

reason

of the many
cells,is in outward

first is termed

who

quarter

carryingonly
healthy,
purebred and

nucleus

us

the

to

certain type of
healthyone, the offspring

example

an

factor. Let

the

carry

manner.

their

as

the

factor. The

generation of hybrids will

be

variety of

shall

estimated

its counterpart,

outwardly healthy persons

as

breeding

occurring
be

take

us

located

dominant

finds

son

not
as
an
great man,
this conclusion, one

of

weaker

often

verified.

Let

nonanemic

the second

that is

of

such

factor,actuallya largemolecule,

genes,

manifestation

also

which

sick person marries a

hybrids,but as a rule, outwardly healthy.The

will be

If

the few

even

infrequent.The

impossible.We

crossbreeding can

Mendel.

is

in

son

certain factor

for

nearly proverbial;one

prospect
not

conclusion

can
craftsmanship,

as

Judging from

the
but

be

can

chance

findingsof

that

remote

conclusion

our

the

as

merit.

own

further

say

only

The

more.

account

distressingsituation

himself, being known

individual

is

of note;

the Cranachs, Hol-

occurrence

man

123

composers

son,

and

not

the

great

and

son,

would

that

but

examples quoted,

became

genial feature, such

inherited, since chance

son
insignificant

Variety

and Friedemann,

the

have

Future

will

cases

not

recessive,just like
two

such

persuaded

hybrids,
to

marry

The

124

and

of them

quarters

far this

So

seems

involved

an

the

encounter

in many

fact,the

to

unfavorable

purebred
the

anemic

their

on

gifted,it

value

Our

example

of survival

be able

anemia, the

on

anemia, while

severe

resistance

low

to

organism

to

successfully
carry
hybrid, outwardly healthy

The

to

survive.

that the

seen

with

agreement

quarter

one

result

so

far is

the
in

not

that

of children

was

be

met

along the

these far-fetched

Let
one

case

will

matters,

he

discourage

point

difficulties likely

the

out

the reader

is

kindly

on

go

of

attempt

any

not

bored

too

by

reading this

cussion?
dis-

what

see

genius. Some
far; not
so

omitted

as

The

if the number

The

some.

different characteristic features

ten

emphasized, they might

were

independence
in any

occur

of

just as blue

representedby

separate

eight chromosomes,
shapes present

eyes,
genes,

small
in the

blond
located

these

in the

we

features
in

were

may
were

gifted persons.

represented by

are

hair,and

microscopically
cells. Each

really ten,

combination

independence implies that they

different genes,

various

In

20.

complication arises if we
give up the notion
singlefeature, and consider the multiplicityof them, representing

us

discussed

have

road.

to

to

between

connection

observed

Chapter

meant

planned eugenic action, only

are

resistance of the

our

not

survival.

discussed
genius and illness,

of

purebred individuals;

exhibit the

to

affairs is in

to

to

hybrids

reasoning to the breeding by eugenicsof the

same

will be

that

genial feature,and are purebred, might

low resistance againstillnesses to be of much
out
to be of too
of
In parenthesis,
this state
for further breeding purposes.

expected
turn

will
localities,

healthyand

Applying the

than

individuals, due

struggle for

individuals stay

shown

ultimatelydie of

individuals

in certain

malaria

Returning

nonanemic

purebred

one

impossibleprocedure to
varietyof giftedpersons. We

low

to

splitting,
quarter gifted.

influences,thus, their chances

low.

are

and

Experience has

perishdue

external

selection

pure

Mendelian

not

resistant

more

latter often

in

by

are

but

first snag.

instances

show

being plain persons,

produce by eugenic methods

now

of the Genius

children, would

produce many

three

Nature

an

aquilinenose

to fortyforty-six

visible

of these

granules of

essential factors

As

Genius

is inherited

separately according

different

ten

in

united

be

will be

of

genes

genius

considered

of what

illustration

an

of characteristics,
let

number

of which
what

white, half black. If

will be the
is:

answer

one

another

out

from

balls from

the

two

to

bag,

grab

we

before; in the average,

three-white
pull.
chances

is in the

of

result

us

will

producing

again

let

chance

be

for

whites

all

ten

ridiculously small,

one

recessive. If

features
in

third

has been

less than

pulls will

be

mated.
previously esti-

with

since

according

person;
to

our

hybrids marry,

purebred form

in

than

more

normal

such

two

occurring

little

and

black

much

now

less than

are

that

assume

us

geniusesby crossbreeding

hybrid, nongenius,

bag,
The

ones?

of kinds

is

genius

the

that, in pulling three

chance

much

crossbreed

balls,half

of

white

white, another

strain of

less

raisingthe

balls from

of twenty-seven

out

one

assumption genialfactors
the

two

this information

lightof

Let
the

grab

three

much

are

bag full

three. The

genius.As

expected from

consider

is

bag

breeding

factor.

one

third red. In other words, the number

increased

The

produce

probabilityof grabbing two

four pulls.Now
of every

third of the balls in the

one

be

we

of

process

to

the

laws, and

combination

only

us

the

order

can

125

Mendelian
in

must

for such

realized,the chances
we

Variety

to

singleoffspringin

one

than before, where

For

Future

million.

is

While

for

they become
plantsor fruit flysuch figuresare not unrealistic,
Theoretically,based on our
discouraging when
applied to man.
of science, eugenics has no
status
present
easy task in producing
a

variety of

new

spite of

In

the

small

the word

probabilityone

has

would

emphasize
is
although difficult,
hence
possible.
we

What
start

would

would

better. The
the women,
in

have
men

we

such
to

that

species,one

our

no

that

be

should
would

Chapter 22,

our

cannot

be

as

of

the

say

geniuses.

plan

is impossible,

in scientific

contradiction

project look
made

consist

predictions.Rather,
that the plan,
analysishas shown

place
in

not

would

with

basic

like in actual

with

several

close

to

execution?

couples,the

more,

the

geniuses as possible.As for

have

to

with

highly gifted persons.

be

principles,

content,

according

to

the

position
ex-

It is desirable

The

126

that

each

gifted

most

would

would

process
attention

between

injection of
this

In

variety

manner,

be

to

show

for

As

with
of

an

to

remark

Such

subjects
before

the

the

new,

probably
man,

much

as

project
might

least.

would

well

have
as

to

be

take

the

artificial
to

the

place
features

liking

of

the

be

would
man

probably

relation
of

the

to

homo

not

the

abandoning
to

many
many

present

sapiens.

cultivated, sacrifices

pointed

that

out

selection

protected.
selection.
enter,

of

ing
start-

do

which

natural

natural

off.

necessary

suited,

been

well

too

of

level

is well

be

could

animals,
are

than

suitable

even

and

work

It has

made.

all

of

existing species

domesticated

efficiency.We

has

be

women

difference

gradually

might

insignificantin
the

possibility that
the

choice

personal preference,

to

the

outside

outside

of

no

features

project. Personally,

spiritually superior variety

many
not

This

is

attained,

is

women

the

and

the

women,

improvement

of its

selection

some

teristics
charac-

starting generations,

might

working

women

the

working

sexes

on

desired

position today.
for

planning,

share, is, however,

men

topic,
a

For

the

in

of

idea

household.

other

eugenic

actually embarking

relish

not

for

two

continual

There

earlier, namely
of

blood

generations,

exhibiting genial

is the

Special

necessary.

ten

variety

This

close

the

be

the

subjects

the

of

purpose

would

definitely favor

would

change

that

number

in

genial incidence

for

made

increasing

ever

this

the

other.

generations.

concentrated.
such

these

each

avoidance

which

more

suitable

finding

refer

we

If

that

For

in

tendency

notwithstanding

men,

the

to

Of

carefully planned

that, if

assume

with

many

persons

many

and

lesser

paid

produced
more

children.

coupled

chosen.

after

might

would

be

to

of

many,

highly gifted

new,

reason

for

partners

become

priori

and

repeated

Genius

number

selected

have

the

of

large

be

be

would

relation

have

couple

Nature

today.

some

has

If so,
Into

of

for
lost

artificial
such
which

25

PSEUDOGENIUS

The

topic

it is in

no

nevertheless,

been,

these

people, and

him

in

1 the

Chapter

In

only

about

the

those

in

borders,

The
the

personal

such

why

mentioned,

of

taste

the

of

exclusion

deserving

the

when

Some

time

not

complete.
us

of

being

take

there

are

the

Delius

or

have

As

be

maintained

that

for

is

the

of the
been

may

they

possessed
127

shed

that

lacked
or

whose
in

in

the

Part

the
with

fully

as

this

on

characteristics

more

were

inventiveness

dered
won-

under

and

upon

limits
matter

V.

For

picture, therefore,

the

who

men

be

discussion

chief

in music,

have

consider

rigorous

not

and

man,

partly

rest

included

they

for

up

features

Chausson

questioned.

first

words

probably disagreed

light will

comes

of

other

be

quent
fre-

more

might

you

whom

additional

inspiration,one

Unquestionably
feature, while

talk

might

It

few

in

others

much

and

been

have

subject

genius

we

say

of

has

name

persons,

The

name.

work

the

Let

certain

clear-cut.

not

are

the

said, odd

was

occur.

are

fluid

Some

others

lofty designation, genius;

the

it

unites

who

missing, people that

are

are

viewer.

such

and

ally
occasion-

that

partial geniuses.

or

was

as

angle,

man

actually

then

us

essentials

few

incomplete

termed

be

which

do

Let

ones.

unified

missing, and

are

combinations

incomplete

complete

as

However,

present

are

gifted

irony.

described

was

types

with

mixed

features

some

two

less odd

or

discussed.

features

these

than

genius

from

treated

more

and

partialgeniuses

to

be

pity

our

or

one

that

added

other,

which

in

combinations

be

well

true

all essential

which

could

arouse

even

may

reference

certain

also

including

much

has

chapter. There

foregoing

of the

place, although

in this

fits well

next

continuation

way

discuss

to

are

we

this

of

craftsmanship
it

genius.

particular

less present.

composition,

is

can

ples
Examcannot

hardly

precious gift. There

are

The

128

Nature

of the Genius

excellent scientistswho, because of lack of invention, are

many
harvesters of a field sown
by others.
There

those

are

These

who
are

another

lack
who

men

in

crucial

selfishness.
uncharacteristic,

sacrifice their

genius
feature,desire

sense

for money;
they lack idealism and mostlythat other
for permanence.
that their work
They usually know

ephemeral
fame

is

This

nature.

knowledge

important

more

generations.They

them

to

Another
These

have

men

by their
beyond the

the great.

among

portraitists,
belong
The

importance

of the

minors.

They

comprise

books
a

in

making

some

we

be

in

involved

fill our
the

science

which

very

clusively
nearly ex-

did

reach

not

minor

highly valued

many

they

cialized
spe-

became

restricted range,

experts
such

as

be overlooked.

not

be

vast

badly off
of

structure

libraries,
paint the
institutes. If

art

Because

out
with-

knowledge,
that

canvases

only the giantsexisted,

know

it

today. Thus,
differentiations which
unjust to
may
appear
it is for clarityof the concepts
contemptuous;
way

no

no

that

other end

essential features

supply the

that

certain

are

the

are

known

genius,humanity would

good part of

there would

in certain

their view

since

this group.
of this class should

true

the

of

writers

universality.

to

scarcityof

the

belong

subjects in
specialized
Painters

is

lacking

competence

countrymen
horizon. There

discoverers.

even

and

make

we

art

no

as

we

them.

of the line

are

those who

possess

one

two

or

these people
rarelyof significance,

only.While

of interest,mainly from

are

rank

found

narrow
relatively

own

national

scientists in

At

not

cannot

that is often

essential

fields. In this category

write

an

disquietthem, present
than the appreciationof future

hence
realists,

are

is of

writers, artists belong in this group.

Minor

or

does

only

psychologicalstandpoint.To

deal

entire treatise,written
require an
properly would
While
plete
incomcalled the first group
we
possiblyby a psychiatrist.

with

them

geniuses,this second
And

the
two
to

this is

exactly the

class

nucleus

is better

of the story:

contradictory situation of being

exceptional characteristics that
create

anything of

true

termed

value.

average
are

not

pseudogenius.

these

people

persons

with

are
one

sufficient for

in
or

them

The

130

find

we

class
with

oustanding

Nature

clerks

of the Genius

and

mechanics

in

the

In

group.

this

belongs also the uninspired scientist who

spends his life
to
determiningthe magnitude of certain propertiesaccurately

the fifth decimal. In this group

artistsof
belong also the commercial
various description:
the commercial
painterwho has a fine ability
and

draw

to

which

he

draws; the writer

with

with
of

trace

after
strictly

work

is

flat

the paper
on
stories,written sometimes

as

of

as

magazine
and vividness,a surprising
vocabulary,
fluidity

remarkable

studded
a

color, but whose

to

natural and

true-to-character

the
originality;

but
dialogs,

of hit

composer

accepted pattern, exactly like the

an

who

tunes

out
withwrites

hit

next

tune

writer.
Still another

degree of
greatness. This
The

the

the

idea

lacks

man

the

are

the

idea

knowledge

so-called

an

gerated
exag-

requisitesof

other

nor

of all is

most

his

and

the

by

dimensions.
nearlypathological
and some
limited ability
to

assume

vague

education

Typical examples
on

can

unfortunately,neither

true

no

some

is characterized

without

perseverance,

has

has merit. What

he had

pseudogenius

doggedness

man

it out;

carry

of

type

is

the

solid foundation:
and

patchy.
They insist

hazy

inventors.

crazy

execution

validityof their invention, despite the dissuasion of all

they have no solid knowledge,

them.
objections are of no avail,they simply do not understand
built a contraptionaccording to
In many
cases
they have never
their plan, and spend years
persuading donors to finance their
projects,mostly in vain. If they find a victim,the latter's money
honest face and
lost,but with the most
is,of course, inevitably
to

whom

they talk

conviction

true

they
in

they

have

will

built

person

intended

and

sign of

interest.

success.

They
and

apt

and

come

to

are

see

Thus

to
a

ask for

works

never

inspect the machine

to

is wary

it. Since

more.

other

In

something that approaches what

mind, which, however,

wishing
the

about

as

it is

stances
in-

they have

supposed

to.

body
Any-

eyed with suspicion,as if

steal the invention; altogetherthe type
rival in any who
shows some
pity-inspired

they

go

on

firmlyconvinced

suppressed by

an

is

and

on,

of their

envious

world.

without

chance

of

genius,alas,unrecognized
The

type

is

truly

Pseudo

missed

The
of

offers

operation of a quasi-externalconstraint,the consciousness

the most
essential among
mentioned
as
callingwas
basically

the characteristics of
that

131

quite a problem to an unbiased observer.

good opportunityby overlooking the subject.

tragicomicaland
Moliere

genius

force, he

could

nothing

and

man,

genius is thinkable
the

without

unselfish,idealistic attitude, and

necessary

features, notably an

of the other

some

other

without

is
type of pseudogenius who
be strongly
feel of a call may

predicament. The

that

developed in

do

no

exists another

there

Yet
requisites.
in
precisely

genius.While

remarkable

perseverance

also

main
ingredients,namely
belong to his nature, but the two
of the craft, without
and
true
thorough mastery
a
inspiration
which
creation is possible,
are
missing or developed only to a
no
of natural gifts
combination
rudimentary degree. No
queerer
be thought of.
can
The man
is convinced
from his earliest youth that he is destined
rected
to
accomplish something great, and his inclination is mostly ditoward
specificchannels. While youthfulambitions coupled
in blue mist, as previously
with positiveabilities often evaporate

may

explained,the ambitions of this particulartype do not vanish with

is quite serious and determined
about his calling,
youth. The man
efforts with

although others, observing his

entertain considerable

Knowing

doubts

He

criticism.

although he

of

characteristic
that in certain
that

he

himself

It would

only
As

cases

be

because

As

no

wonder

production
by,

that

genius often

only moderate

that

to

that

category,

argues,

to

attention

to

and,

up

classical.

everything

is slow.

he

sees

things do

ideas, but

called

throw

ficient
clearer,provided that he has suf-

not

take the

be

wrong

and
they lack solidity

somewhere.

he has

course

mentioned, his inspirationis either absent

certain

prove
disap-

no

self-judgment,that something must

And

undertaking.

youthful productions,
genius, have been forthcoming, he argues
the great development was
slow, and
among

might belong

go

of his

mind, may

blamed, for the call is strong,

unaccountable, he

the years

the wisdom

pays

admit

must

true

man

be

cannot

himself

to

unbiased

surroundings of

that immediate

of his insistence,our
such

as

an

or

weak;

expected.
he

connection

ceives
con-

with

The

132

the

times.

Nature

wanders

He

along

mentioned

justthis solitariness was

it appears

now

subtle

and

as

not

ideas
and

often

are

of his time.
as

genius,while

true

differences

are

originalthe ideology of
substantial. Our

solid,precise and

man's

be

thin, although they may

and

without

own

Curiously enough,

typicalof

However

grasp.

be

vague

original

merit.

without

not

to

must

is all his

that

sign of pseudogenius. The

easy

genius, it

true

path

world
spiritual

in the

being rooted

of the Genius

important perhaps is the execution of his work. Execution,

of a projectin general lines,and of the finished product in

More

both

all its details is

reallywhat

it stamps

counts:

great, medium

work

in this respect. His inner

pseudogenius fails pitifully
all his projects,
executes
urge is so unconquerable that he diligently
result is deplorabe it a work
of science, art or philosophy. The
ble,
or

Our

poor.

which

carries

he

remarkable, since

more

duties in his life

other

When
satisfactorily.

he

he

of

his

finished

the

usuallyself-taughtand

he lacks the true,

dilettante"

in

is

he

rests"

mastery

of

manner

be

congenitalabilityto

all great

work.

As

his inner

lacks

mastery

which

upon

can

certain

out

obeys

grande passion,he fails" mainly because

the craft. Besides lacking a solid foundation

urge,

is the

described

execute

all
as

work

result, he is

bungler.
is accustomed

One
the

The

observed.

exists

there

it,and
oddness

associate desire
such

carry

connection

this type
desire where

with

unquenchable

to

may

of

out

be

with

work

nearly always

pseudogenius

is that

abilityis missing.
of a hobby, there

true

long as such an activityhas the character

of a problem, if the
it becomes
more
nothing objectionable;
looks at it as his main
calling,and is unwilling or unable to

As
is
man

do

other

some

the

Are

they
even
a

do

abilityto

to

world

care
true

for

our

pity, from

comical, on

they

have

manner,

this last type

hand

they

built for themselves.

live

their

regrettable?In

way

purely objectivestandpoint they

the other

public praise,another

genius. They

abnormal

of work.

pseudogeniusesof

deserve
appear

kind

As

qualitywhich
own

again resembling

often satisfiedwith

are

idealists,
they seldom

they

life in

secluded
their

share

true

with

the

certainly

counterpart.

Al-

Pseudo

their

though
a

whole,

feel

pity

they
for

life

are

them

may

often
would

be

genius

133

considered

valueless

contented
be

out

with

of

place.

their

for

queer

humanity
lot,

and

as

to

WORKS

OF

GENIUS

The

138

the

oriented
differently
the

on

the masses,

it is

probably

between

in listeners

work

is

of

not

the

Hamlet

The

or

plays,such
in

on

with

varietyof

Merchant

as

the

appeal,but

when

wide

of

interest:

Or

another

generalityand
it strikes

few.

though
Al-

it

in its execution

a variety
satisfying

not

of his historical

some

the stage the latter gains

be many
who
will sincerely
from

come

the like. Have

and

as

torians,
scholars,his-

The

Merchant

read

people, of varied professionand varied degree

discover

will

most

which

statement

of which

matters,

trilogy.On

read, there will

circle of

by

be

to

seems

Shakespeare'smasterpieces,such

VI

literarygourmets

enjoyedby

appeal to

an

of Venice, with

Henry

is

art

the

scope,

delight;appreciation might

express

of

diversified interests. Such

of

of limited

be

Compare

tastes.

work

of limited value. There

viewers

or

subjectmay

different

that if

specializednature,

gains width, touching

of

groups.

present emphasis is on
of a great work
by means

many-sided character
resonance

ever,
people,with emphasis,how-

that earlier and the present

clarified. The

be

of the Genius

interested

stressed before

contradiction
must

and

educated

more

It has been

Nature

something
of

illustration: think

Golden

Helmet, and

field

by Reynolds"you

Rembrandt's

it with

compare

will

that fascinates them.

the

probably

Man

portraitof Lord

see

Heath-

point. This

my

the

ivith

wide

fairlysensitive criterion of a true masterpiece,as so

expressed in the prologue of Goethe's Faust. A word
delightfully
of caution, given several times before,is appropriate at this point,
appeal

and

is

that is that
is

true

artistic

criterion
a
as

be

mind

appeal

will

certain

be

most

level. Width

while

piece
master-

without

being

than

more

this

of

one

by a great work.
requirement of
is as valid with regard to the work
qualifications

The

man.

many-sided
to

is that much

reason

satisfied

multiplicityof
with regard to the
However

value; the

must

delightseverybody,

Suppe

by

be reversed:

appeal, a product of general

be very far from a masterpiece.

circumstances

under

overture

cannot

of universal

nearly always

appeal may
An

statement

our

work, it

degree

kin

pronounced
in the

sense

to

can

its creator's

among

used

create

groups

here does

only

resonance

mind.
of
not

Hence,

in

its

tional
higher educainclude

people

Appeal

International

of

lower

learning and
is

not

The

level.

cultural

trainingto
in

meant

latter do

possess

ethical values

mention

its economic

by

contribution

of

the

necessary

depth. This

some

of people may
that group
the more
educated, not
to

sense:

shared

not

have

not

work

appreciate a

derogatory

139

the

to

community.

The

fact,

demands
stands that for the satisfaction of its spiritual
nevertheless,
of a simple
that group
does not
need masterpieces.It needs works

exactly the

know
who
men
by professional
of the group
and produce accordingly.

quality,produced
demand
A

presentationof the question whether

humorous

poignant and

worthless or
appreciationof the plain people stamps a work
valuable, is found in Wagner's Meister singer.Beckmesser, representing
the judgment
the classical or pedantic standpoint,scorns
the

of the

people, Hans

who
have

taken

values it

the contrary
stronglytheatrical and wrote

was
a

Sachs

on

mediatory stand.

it appears
that Beckmesser's
truth closer than the views

conservative
of

often for effect,must

keeping with

In

Sachs, as

ner,
highly.Wag-

our

statement,

own

opinion approached the

demonstrated, in fact,by

Sachs's historical role, by his many

popular comedies
in all objectivity
be called masterpieces.
To

sum

value

true

the

estheticallyuntrained

up,

of

work

Let

here

too,

and

Letters

and

the

with

the

An

community,

magazine

must

where

Textbooks

same

found
added

of

as

are, with

article for
is

contradictory.

humanity, and

in the

look

holds

restriction.
rule

few

the writer

only

notable

newspaper,

of

into

of the

previous case

himself

exceptions,without
meant

slightlybetter product.

necessity be

this argument

appear

the different countries

over

was

diaries interest

recipient:they

merit.
literary

small

thesis that

same

not

of

strata

of diffusion: that

kind

earth. The

see

the

appreciationoften grades

cultural interests will

leave the varied

now

us

second

and

their

judge

cannot

persons

not
can-

inferior. With
this reservation, our
ment
stateas
particularwork
the general appeal of a masterpiece to persons of varied
on

professionaland

of art, and

which

still better

An

to

interest

article for

quality.You

can

leads.

of literature contain

nearly exclusivelyin the country

names

in

of many
authors known
which
the textbook
was

a
a

The

140

excluded

not

dictionaries of their

and

texts

the

beyond

country's

in

our

ponding
corres-

is

into

Looking

not

question,

without

fame,

boundaries.

in

This

country.
that the men

patriotism;it is an indication
national
their mediocrity, achieved

to

found

are

pictures

from

statesmen

own

local

to

due

had

we

of

number

vast

might add that legionsof them

discussions,we
due

If

abroad.

of the Genius

institutes contain

written;similarlyart
unknown

Nature

trating
pene-

such

fail noticing the

cannot
Larousse, one
as
recognized dictionary
the biographicalentries,names
prevalence of French names
among
has

one

of.

heard

never

characteristic of

The

such
to
masterpiece is universality
people anywhere irrespectiveof their

true

degree that it speaks to

nationality.The requirement
a

is often

one

the difference is not

science, which

in

conspicuous

of

art

ethical

work

roots

of

of

difference

genius is

approach. Foreign
in face of its

in David
behind

what

is

the characters

make

woodcuts

are

average
but

country,

read

little

notice

they

its strangeness,

the

are

The

appear
will

to

notice

to

strictlylocal

in

they

accept

Wives

universal

of
or

it

very

However

so.

more

Frenchman

character

will

not

to

Merry

points in

Shakespeare is

even

its

at

Windsor
a

traits,and

or

Japanese,
he

will

despitethe unquestionable effort

and Japanese
assimilate them. Chinese

easilyexperience full enjoyment

able

to, but

used

character.

human

basicallythe

so

these works,

in order
so

touches

crumble

not

be

an

boundaries

national

depictedin

the local veil he

or

in its own

great

so

largelyby

surprisingthen that

Dickens, the latter

Copperfieldmust

gladly hear
must

that

overwhelming

typicallyEnglish,so
strange

determined

deeply human,

so

nationals

it differs from

which

is little

others.

psyche

our

matters

basicallyinternational,but is

not

be considered

may

appreciatedin
A

is

tradition. It is

and

education

he

or

foreigners,

and substantial

religion,fields

philosophy and

arts,

work

main

great. The

too

talking with

in cultural fields. This

their traditions,especially

lies in

in

When

that in economic

find

surprisedto

considering the

stringentone,

characters.

in national

difference

is

resist the immediate

of Sharaku, for instance, a

in

that Westerners

viewing them,

power

of the

yet

do

they

masterpieces

leading Japanese theatrical portraitist.

This

science, as mentioned.

in

of

of translation

than

add

this irksome
in prose.

literature

in

obstruction

the

to

weight somewhat.

found

implicationsare

greatest

poetry

In
its

lessen

transmission

masterpiece is less significant

music, too, the relatively
easy means

penetrationof

criterion of

of poems,

Translation

Unquestionably its
where
the problems

of national

of translation is

matter

141

Appeal

International

restrictive

more

even

In

boundaries.

into

notably lyricpoems,

Translations of Heine's
impossibility.
into another
love poems
language, conveying all the beauty and
do not
exist. A masterpiece of poetry
of the original,
sentiments
must
fightagainstgreat odds in penetratingthe barriers between
countries. As a result,although known
abroad, they are not much
the
read
can
or
by people who
read, except by professionals,
That holds for the masterpiecesof all countries: the poetry
original.
is known,
and Baudelaire
of Heine, Keats
although little read in

foreign language touches

on

foreign countries.
Prose
out

the

can

do

is

translatable,although the difficulties in bringing

more

of the

nuances

language of Dostoyevsky's

the

justiceto

also formidable.

originalare

translation

No

appreciatedand widelyread abroad

a natural
greatness: they have to overcome

that these novels

are

proof of their
againststrangeness

hears

sometimes

One

effect that their

well

as

art

is

not

as

poor

The

novels.

fact

is a double
resistance

rendition.

complaints from small

appreciatedabroad, not

countries
as

much

to

the

as

that

largecountries. No doubt, small countries have to contend with

certain handicap. It is maintained, for example, by Hungarians
a
that their novelist Maurus
masterpieces that would
Jokai wrote
of

be hailed
his best

loudly,had
novels, The

reading in

the

he been

German

Landowner,

Neuo

Englishwriter. One of
makes
a
truly delightful

or

in existingtranslations,
however,
original;

all its inimitable flavor. If

it has lost

first class translator tried his skill at it,

its universal

such

hard

be admitted
that
appeal might gain, and it must
be
translator,mastering both Hungarian and English,would

to

find. Thus, very

whereas
translations,
the

littleeffect has
every

strikingly difficult

partly in

the

effort
Doctor

language of Luther,

ever
was

been

made

made
to

Faustus, for
as

to

render

effect
into

perfect
English

instance, written

perfectlyas possible.On

the

The

142

other

hand,

without

the

only

therefore,

there

to

is

no

appreciation
all

enjoy

Finally,
the

world

by

Acceptance
mention

Thomas

Tunnel.

Both

educated
fiirst

is

over

strata,

is

The
is

world
of

word

the

caution
itself

in

as

masterpiece.

and

of

for

small

instance,

countries

not

is,

second

its

regard
painters

of

being

As

count.

and

thriller

with

acceptance

by

the

work

masterpiece.
let

example

an

Bernhard
the

acceptance,
as

painting,

that.

of

Buddenbrooks

and

Dutch

great

Wide

evidence

music
countries

large

for

before.

does

in

as

the

proof

world-wide
the

exist,

esteem

no

masses

Mann's

found

throughout,

find,

we

novel,

Jokai's

character

local

complaint

small

others.

the

that

just

appeal

not

between

by

over

does

handicap

difference

be

justified.

partly

such

Where

of

is

The

Karamazov.

Genius

to

human

universal

truly

order

ways,

many

the

of

in

say

in

Brothers

The

in

must

one

excellent

although

Nature

me

Kellermann's

first

masses.

mainly

by
Only

the
the

27

the
a

that

concluded

We

of

population
fills all the

gas

time.

inasmuch

is limited

latter

will

situation

time

each

At

and

earth.

on

all

survive
cannot

can

is that

say

goes:

period. The

that

of the
Yet

case.

do

would

not

wiped

be

Of

occasions.

man

we

or

rocks

out

nature.

fear

to
as

bear

our

in

that

witness

be
has

testimony

limitation
it.

have
of

our

regard

could
to

already

prediction

143

to

been

past
not

still

replicas of

deposited

future

the

been

filled;
ful-

better

cultures
several

on

be

confident,
over-

wrought

whether

occur,
our

be

should

we

during

of entire

in the

Compressed

age

will

so

vation
preser-

always

not

or

years

reasonable

we

time

of

interests

condition

the

that

catastrophes
This

thousand

human

to

appears

in

and

experience

Our

reckoning

own

probably happened

even

accomplishments
to

last three

that

entirely overlook

cannot

cultural
of

by

need

course,

world

the

advances,

should

permit extrapolation.All

to

unfortunately,

which,

of

comprehend

certainty.

appreciable change

work

new

than

masterpiece
to

easy

as

only condition

with

greater

are
a

far

as

within

technique

as

we

true

born

the

time

not

foreseen.

be

can

but

seen"

populated

that

absolute

with

seems

masterpieces

is

come

be

to

none

becomes

thought

long enough

not

it

survived

have

to

stated
is

respect

earth

the

Indeed,

be

and

set

are

potentialitiesof

generations

even

in that

the

remains

future,

the

The

whether

is concerned"

planet

own

limits

no

the

so

our

in

generation

new

inhabitants,
space

far

so

no

are

in space.

that

than

important

more

as

change

and

on

goes

is

there

too,

transcend.

not

in time

diffusion

This

this

it could

of time

barriers

that

as

sion,
dimen-

is still another

genius will penetrate

of

latter's surface

the

over

concerning

limits

no

disposal.There

its

at

space

has

genius

globe; it diffuses

our

work

of

work

FUTURE

THE

IN

SURVIVAL

by

exists, and
our

in the

generations,

major
depths
should

The

144

such

Nature

catastrophe,much

of the Genius

expectations,annihilate

againstour

our

culture.
In

examining this abilityof a

times, it is perhaps advisable

all

science

and

of

Although

arts.

of

work

genius,this

look

to

and

truth, assuming that

question.If it is
future.

in the

be

experimentation,may
crude

no

errors

considered

around

will

be

piece

the observation

into

crept

Although the edifice

of

resultingfrom

piece of truth, it follows that

works

difference

is different.
found, the approach to the two
A piece of scientific knowledge, particularly
one

observation

for

separatelyat

fundamental

no

survival

in

it will remain

it will

of

so

santly,
inces-

change

of the piece in relation

alteringthe positionand significance
the rest, its

to

for all
detail
Thus

of

major concept,

see

we

that

weight of

distribution of
the

not

minor

is

These

work

no

been

artery:

an

placed as

criterion of

survive

and

thousand

science

generations.This
concept

without

so

them,

broad

and

are

where

these limitations show

although science
to

the

are

two

those

that future

in

the

examples
course

of

work

survival in

archives,do

scientific

that

are

by

are

on

them.

hundred

researchers
is

developments

not,

developments.

mentioned

their nucleus

actuallybased

are

of

weighty,

so

unthinkable

It often

happens

found, indicatingwhere

their

become
principles
necessary. Precisely
the depth of the concept,
they prove that,
new

progressed in the meantime,

it in certain

than

building

majority of

results of tedious

new

is because

principlefound

by extending
more

has

more

masterpiece.

that limitations of these concepts

validityends and

genius.

as

in the

after their establishment

years

of

metal, the

are

into the

mention

small

to

it all

for all times. Mere

survive

pulsationof

in the

masterpiecesof

brick
us

these facts

genius,rather

work

element, the densityof

an

of

work

The

future

it refers
or

holds

statement

is concerned,

details,although they survive

however,

revert

minor

scientific work

as

scientists;
yet they

science

The

unaltered.

it stays there. Let

discipline,
particular

cases

their

far

as

to

survives;having once

the atomic

and

remain

pieces of information,whether

correct

or

less

or

will
validity

centuries

ago

and

directions. Euclidean

thousand

years

ago,

it is necessary

establish

geometry,

is such

new

to
one

lished
estab-

masterpiece:

The

146

This

abilityto
of

human,

the

formula

what

rather

as

yet

makes

that is
Seven

reader"

not

not

Let

scholar, of

of
course"

of which

historical drama

minor

world

direct

it imparts
literature,

manner

the

same

of the

Theban

women

of

some

over

to

accept
a

simple
it

piece,
master-

Shakespeare's

the

It is

reader

merely

not

in the

many

five hundred

thousand

two

as

gent
Aeschylus.Even an intelliwill have
in
difficulty

are

to

in

example

passionsthat

variety of human

have

it survived?

there

gives the truly

express

an

as

as, say,

enjoyingthat drama; why, then, has

an

to

easy

obvious

as

Against Thebes
a

it

persons,

choose

us

that

same

deeplyhuman character
move
along the surface,

not

not

is the

masterpieceimmortal, we

empiricalfact.

one

does

is

of time

the

stories,landscapesor

The

works:

work

unchangeable.It

an

barrier

of countries:

genius.Such

picturing events,

of the Genius

the

penetrate

the boundaries

penetrates
of a work

Nature

archives
listener in

or

stillactive

are

ago. The

years

the horrors

of

of the

day,
to-

tation
lamen-

siegeand

as
dangers they are facing are the same
people'sreactions to war
nowadays; Eteocles is the representant of today's sabre rattling
the fightbetween
the brothers Eteocles and Polymilitarymen;

gives a truthful picture of ruthless lust for

neices

then

as

brother's
narrow-minded

know

burial

is

wishing

againsta hurdle

run

style.If he

and

city council

prohibitthe

to

tragicpresentationof

not
politicians

petty

today. One

must

of the

the resolution

now;

of its strange

bellious
re-

bureaucratic

bit different from

acquaint himself

to

effective

power,

with

those

we

that drama
of presentation,

subject,way

that obstacle,he will

experiencea
unique sensation when he finds how littlehumans have changed in
that long span of time; a sensation only a masterly presentation
can
impart. If,in
if he

as

The
and

waded
human

he reads

through
value

painting,is

discussed.
obvious

ans

contrast,

or

hears

in

The
a

work

than

boredom,

of

voice

an

legal document.
masterpiece,equally present

same

old

evident

most

humorous

again choose

of

an

of the

mediocre

vintage,he will experience little more

same

us

overcomes

in music

in serious

such as the
subjects,
in a work
of fatality
of genius is not
masterpiece,although as well present.

example

not

too

widely

known:

Aristophanes,a bitingsatire againstwar

The

mongers

one
as

Let

Acharniand

war

in the Future

Survival

That
profiteers.

is so

comedy

plot" there is no plot,as a

that again a reader will not
he

once

does, he

to

will be

somebody opened

of fact" from

matter

and

have

art

and
to

by artificialmeans

critics make
contradict

them.

artificialmeans

at

other

that

words,

times

different

occasion

on

change,

epochs

which

to

and

the conclusion

maintain

is

some

disappearancefrom
instrumental

we

do

Experts
dare

not

relative oblivion,

from

held

been

esteemed

are

degree, the changes being

initiated

that

by

reputationwill
no

true

had

of Bach's music,

some

even

lost

it

and

back.

come

masterpieces,
hand

in

their

Mendelssohn

pedestal.Although

in the revival of

ever

by
times
some-

or

past half century,

that they are

justified
critics might have

their

other

high. In

small groups
for instance, that Ibsen's dramas

predicted whether

notwithstanding

been

its age.

that rank.

to

masterpieces

good deal of their reputationduring the

If not,

spiteof

in

excellence,and

had

some

different

individuals. It is known,

be

has

that classics in all fields of

lift a work

entirelynatural,sometimes

cannot

which

generallyjustified,
in judging masterpieces.There

certain role

drop another

tastes

comprehe
in-

Although this notion is not

play

movements

are

remains

dull. It is as if

never

drink

promoted

in their

believe

us

ences
refer-

many

much

bubbling

hears the accusation

one

been

start

comedy

but
intricacies,

are

and

persons,

and
it is exhilarating

kept sealed for centuries: it will

Sometimes

its

and

structure

modern

There

bottle of carbonated

its

easilyplow through

amply rewarded.

us, but

to

entirelydifferent in

events

contemporary

147

was

nobody

would

appreciationis only kept up artifically.

There may, however, be instances in which such a suspicioncould
value and masterpiececharacter of Vergil's
be justified;
the literary
Aeneid
or

is open

There

experts"

play

to

it deserves

not

now.

that the present

at

present

it has been

more

or

less

enjoyingup

to

an

the basis of the

that old music

that music
romantic

the fame

whether

unquestionable renaissance of seventeenth

doubt, initiated by music
music; although, no
century
no
layman would conceive the idea of wanting to hear or

Vivaldi"

between

is

question,and only the future will show

more

and

ours

times

the

of the twentieth

enjoyabletoday

period.With

lies in

movement

than

it had

appreciationof

certain

similarity

century,
been
art

making

during
also

the

changes;

the

Nature

The

148

fact

coming

that

to

the

particular
surface

of

braves

work

remains

the

sure

Genius

the

sign

fluctuations
of

its

grandeur.

and

keeps

28

ORIGINALITY

The

feature

work

is

with

The

first

new,

is it

question

which

of

is the

be

considered

this

is

simply

first

for

is unfavorable.

while

worth
the

field

of science

revolutionary
the

of

chapter

in

by
of the
rank

as

point

is

into

by

world.
among

of

masterpiece

of

this

followers
great:

of

blood,
of

earlier

Treatises
of

of

of

genius, however

149

such

work,
is

originality.

highly original;

William

on

verdict

the

Darwin's

originality, in fact,

Copernicus

elaborating

is

The

novel.

novelty.

opened

notion

that

work

original. It
of

are

comes

discovery, the

and

matter

unusual

work

the

the system

works

mere

cannot

work

means

no

nearly all masterpieces

refuting the

is

the

often

most

such

that

out

of

subject of

result,

of

matter

scientific

the

points,

closer

circulation

the

creation

and

among

theme

of

character; the

physiology;

astronomy

not

of

another

or

ranks

ever

discovery implies the feature

of Species is

is, Is

which

imitators

main

essence

good

looking

indeed, the word

Origin

the

often

certain

work

by experience.

out

stringent, and,

Critics

it has

although

center

scarcely

philosophical system,

is rather

demand

form

some

many

topic, the

originality:

principle of

In

too

are

borne

It is the

mind.

to

probed

thus

in

the subject
thinking of originality,

When

in

it from

at

feature
work

genius. A

of

before

There

fact

judging

basic

is the

new

their work

field, and

every

look

now

when

ask

to

achievement

great.

discussed

was

since
question is,doubtless, justified,

has gone

what

will

we

great

product.

something

prime

repetition of

do

genius;

is apt

one

original? The

establishment

of

of

man

of

thinking

angle, this

another

standpoint of the finished

the

in

the

when

mind

chieflyto

comes

originality.From

connection

it

that

Harvey,
an

entirely

earth

being

discoveries
great

new

modern

established
the

coverer
dis-

their

the

of others

ance.
import-

The

150

certain

much

attract

the

attention.

subject,writes
the

Apart from
which

of the

word

is used

Along
of

matter

here.

short

first

does

who

man

to

who

man

which

note

second

the

are

not

elaborates

receives all the credit.

be

fairness,the question may

asked,

the
be called great in the sense
fact is that, although only the first is

The
which

the second
original,

comes

dissertations

two

Often

detailed treatise and

cited,there

cases

historyof science, that

statement.

our

something publishesonly

discovers

on

contradict

respect

in the

of the

students

by

Genius

of the

quite obvious

is

Although novelty
others, detected

Nature

can

opens

up

field and

new

pointsout

all

example is
although
Roentgen's discovery of X-rays, certainlya masterpiece,
the

it entails
possibilities

observed

Crookes

casuallybefore

them

quite frequent,and,

are

is the

only. Another

of the

is the greater

more

him.

An

two.

science,such

In

less,of interest

or

the historian

to

it
as
acidity,particularly

of

measurement

cases

appliesto biologicalsystems. That discoveryis associated with the

first described by
of Sorensen, although the technique was
name
Friedenthal.
others, notably the anthropologist
who

Sorensen

applied it in

of
recognized the significance
generallyuseful manner.

It is perhapsnot
a

so

the

much

be

philosophycan

exaggerationit

said that

be

can

found

in the

old

empirical

or

transcendental

realityof thought

proofs

which

they

did

than

by

The

method

with

not

been

used

the ideas

were

possess

sufficient

to

these

matter:

been

and
or

free

are

the
since

one

or

recognized by
clearly
to

idealism,
will,
basic
is the

dealt with, and

strengthen

knowledge

without

problem of

added

been

has

these basic ideas have

have

alternative. While

realityof

What
philosophy.

of all

in which

manner

versus

thinking, determinism

bases

has been

new
nothing basically

deity,the

foundations

ality
origin-

true

Greeks, and

them

to

in which

way

therein lies the

by any of the philosopherssince. The

antagonism of body and soul,materialism

added

and

method

Quite clear is this situation in philosophy.The

hidden.

of all

the

subjectitselfbut the

subject is treated that really

matters;

however,

It was,

treat

them

the

the

other

the Greeks,
otherwise

reasoning.
sophistic
pictures,analogies,
syllogisms,
the same
remained
through the Middle Ages, and only

guesses,

Descartes, Hume

and

Locke

did

new

era

begin: the appli-

Originality
cation of
the

to

method, the evaluation

new

old

same

effective

the

by
Nowadays
it is

sense

problems

problems. This

of

are

There

tried

in

not

human

not

does

nature

position,they
of

kind

called

old

edifice:

values.

methods, since

successful

It is certain
in

holds

same

in

is one,

that

is

in

will deal with

difficult

less

or

work

the

the old

at

be

stricted
re-

scarcelybe

recent

of

ethics

on

the old
Albert

ones

philosophersof this kind

the

they

the

among

of

science

into
instilling
originality

and

This,

representativeof this

for

future; there will be

scientific foundation,permitting them to
in which

quantum

uncertainty

is that of human

scientific

succeeded

few

Schopenhauer

Schweitzer.

will be

more

their

disposal a solid
originalin the manner

topicsof human

values:

ethics

esthetics.

One

think

might

may

well

refer

of

melody

is

by

composers

at

so-called

new

techniques.Fichte

masterpiece.The

Spencer.Only

and

of

development

philosophers:his work, despiteits merits, can

Henri

and

yet exist.Thus, these people are

deal with old problems, and are more

the

to

Mach

general system, using the

in creating
of them has succeeded

any

used

sciences. The

causality,several philosophershave

masterpiece remains to be seen.

second
The
philosophicalsystem

has
unfortunately,

exact

of Ernst

the

a
establishing

ideas;whether
physical

new
a

hands

their

strict

to

of

others, the

mechanics, utilizing,among
contrast

have

Since

them.

in this

knowledge, and

develops,the summary
been
few
masterpieces
a

the works

many:

among

principlein

increasingly

sciences.

present status
but as science

our

still the same,

along this line,not

Poincare

become

since

general picture of human

continuallychange.

must

of scientific observations,

exact
development
kinds of philosophical
two
can
distinguish
systems.

summary

are

has

of

we

deals with

One

151

the

does

matter
not

that

originalityin

the main

to

theme

inexhaustible,and
of

This
originality.

closer,it too

necessarilymean

not

sufficient. A

the

styleof

Ravel

needs
a

new

used
new

never

music, for instance,

in those works:

ones

can

the wealth

always

be

invented

the surface is correct;

on

looking

amplification.
Originalityin
melodic

a
piece,utilizing

would

arts,

new

theme.

melody,

be called

music

It is

but
essential,

but

composed

original.
Again

we

in
are

The

152

faced

with

of the Genius

the main
point as before: it is not so much
be
theme, rather the technique by which it is developed that must
This

novel.

if

same

is the

why musical technique keeps changing:

melody sufficed,
masterpiecescould be composed
styletoday,which" alas,I might add" is not
Wagner's Ring, Orff's Carmina
sonatas,
geniusbecause they represent a new
stylein

reason

twist in the

new

the

Nature

in the romantic

possible.Beethoven's
Burana

of

works

are

composition which
Literature
be made.

not

exist before.

another

field in which

did

off ers

similar observations

can

possiblynot be the copy of another

small changes are
regarding plot.On the other hand, relatively
sufficient to produce a new
plot,otherwise similar to an old one.
Actually, novels without a plot at all may be work of genius,as
those

True,

of Proust

We

touch

show.

here

the

Tale:
except
was

beautified

our

the latter's version

former

is unknown

shows

that

Using

an

of the

that Greene

with

drastic

that

point is

his Winter's

Fandosto,

Greene's

The

in
similarity

Shakespeare

"an

this

upstart

to

except

of literature. The

students

that of the

for

source

thoroughly defended

other

the

respects

Perhaps

secondary to
plot is so frequent an

brevity,actuallythey
is
are

as

treatment.

too

more

of

character
a

work

placed in what

narrow

were
to

work

to

of

means

genius.In
the

direction,the founding of

as

recent
matter

long

in

as

original.

was

features

are

that

occurrence

existingsources

styleand execution
be original,
facets that may
and

littlerestricted

of

of

use

emphasis was

These
style.

and

execution

the

execution

much

too

crow

example

be probably hard
would
find in
to
entirelyoriginalones
do exist. Goethe
literature,
although some
enlarged on this
and

case

feathers";quite remarkable, consideringthat

is thought of as a masterpiece today,while the

of plot is
originality

older

was

Shakespeareutilized

Robert

story.

called

in

case

rigorously to

end

very

obvious

so

plays.A

plot adheres

for the

connection

in another
his

plots for

known

question of plagiarism.It

delicate

the

on

before

mentioned

should

novel

most

we

mentioned
be
as

up

to

may

school

the

of

said

on

of

for sake

adequate. Originality
the theme.

There

contribute

to

general terms,

opening

have

new

followers

the

then, originality

field,a
of which

new
can

of

works

The

fate

only

of
in

base
such

their
it

the

technique

is

is

hard

is

of

There

is

however

similar

too

it

springs,

will

artificial

to

Who

that

innovations

What

worthy

have

tell,

can

might

genius

ever

seems

of

anything

in

emerge
an

oddity

genius.

as

of

to

As

sense

who

today

sculpture

as

do

with

true

in

explained
ahead

explores

might

of

works

of

the
their
then

work,

today's
future

in

appreciated

mobiles,

thought

be

be

will

whether

however?

are

efforts

these

sincerity

of

Much

sculpture.

in

appears,

however,

wonders,

of

genius.
situation

grotesque

One

and

of

works

with

deal

them,
d'etre

raison
of

in

saw

believe

to

chief

upon

method,

they

sincerity

will

30

has

the

The

attention.

Chapter

obvious"

that

suspicion

the

what

the

creators

such

to

perhaps

one

The

demand

closest

like

the

effects.

desired

so,

and

too

of

here

thinking

fabric

visions

here

although

are

wood,

their

say

attract

to

We

comes

they

dismiss

to

quite

not

criterion

If

certain,

so

certain

assembly

imagination.

not

paper,

that

maintain

particular

but

of

achieve

to

considered

be

will

Picasso

present.

at

bits

pasting

work

the

that

possible

order

and

is

others

some

are

guesses

technique

of

of

Genius

future.

the

in

genius

the

of

Klee

Utrillo,

Matisse,

of

works

Nature

The

154

times.
of

made

They

genius.

wire

seem

inspiration.
Chapter
times;
hidden
become

there

7,
sometime

are

later

potentialities.
a

true

craft

29

HUMOR

The
not

feature

next

Science

works.

great

is

it

ever

Of

comedy?

it is

work;
A

work

who

of

of the

both

is

combination

basically

is

not

work.

invent

the

ask

we

that

sad, the

often

so

the

from

ask

we

every

be

to

is

just

have

We
in order

to

the

uniform

as

create

Why

instead

at

mood.

be

must

would
mix

to

fusion

with

the

very

same

him:

in other

be

some

mood.

the

It

main

time, and
words,

supposed

was

genius

in

not

and

Only

much

basic

he

is part

of

to

sal
univer-

of this kind.

work

switch

subject,

serious

from

man

noncreative

man

before, when

fundamental
a

his

to

product

the

ask

we

than

perform

to

tried

will be:

complex
A

strain

opposite, namely

mood

then

by

chuckle

to

elements

greater

is able

mood

able

humorous

pervaded

The

be

The

feel

man

the

into

great

effort, and

an

and

greatest.

professions of

otherwise

work,

at

now

must

for

in every

and

for

calls

in various

subject happens

or

combine

requires concentration

It

is needed

while

serious

it. This

in

steeped

element

he

to

tragedy

present

understand

thoroughly

must

of creative

mood

theme,

humorous,

the

that, in spite of his concentration

means

be

and

serious

humorous.

strain

humorous

the

either

it

have

works

great

many

of

art

of many
we

the

Imagine

great.

what

moment;

precisely among

If the

serious

that

you

the

higher degree than

nature.

for the

far, and

so

characteristic

found, however,

become

must

it is,nevertheless,

to

course,

creates

he

discussed

those

as

art.

occur

features

essential

as

is excluded

about

mostly

Did

the

not

general either, but

as

say

is

from

the

basically gay

to

serious

difficult.
to

picture the task

mixed

effort?

the
of

instead

atmosphere

of

a
a

of

man

uniform

Is it necessary

simple atmosphere?
in

work

155

of

art

genius

is faced

mood.

The

for the
The
may

man

answer

be

only

with

question
to

create

is, yes.
one

step

The

156

from

True,

monotony.
if it is uniform,
who

does

of monotony
the

is

This

serious

moods

is the

effective in
and the

to

certain

the

only

one;

of

matter

tragedy becomes
work

is

art

than

what

to

extent

this

magnifiedby

and

oughly
thor-

explained.A

incomplete,and

extent

of the

mixture

proper

Tragic

contrast.

elements

alternate with

plasticthan

more

so

two

are,

dose of humor,

before.

it was

doubt,

no

Similarly,

be excellent in itself,
conveyingmerriment

may

derives from

one

Not

the humor

from

only
by

have

all time. The

do with

strike

the blended

tragedy

the

value

the earth and

of

of

work

for

survives

quite a bit

genius.Life itselfis such

comical.

human

many

piece
master-

If

breasts,it

of

work

be

must

art
a

is

true

and nothing will add to the similarity

more
life,
atmosphere of gravityand humor. There is no
contain

not

incident that would

humorous
The

in which

so

in life that would

there is no
message.

in

resonance

picture of human
than

value of

mood

blended

of seriousness and wit has

exclusivelytragicor

never

is intensified.

the human

it spreads over

mixture

proper

that human

mixture,

pointed out

of which

means

of the whole

purely artistic standpoint has

particularvalue. We

to

amazing

rupted
if it is unexpectedly interdelightto the viewer or listener;
by something serious,contemplative or even sad, the delight

and

is

themselves,yet let them

humorous

to

one

lends it its artistic completeness.

There

is

felt rather

be

must

strictlyhumorous

For

arts.

understandingthe danger

of

work

in

even

masterly alternation of the serious

work

art

artistic

monotonous,

versed

spectator

entirelyabsent. It

derives from

the humorous.

genius is never

much

quite as

not

pleasure one

of

for

not

diversityof aspects, by

is

of the Genius

work

least

at

have

not

Nature

work

of

effect of

blending

is executed

elements
not

have

of humor,
a

and

contemplative

that has the proper blend and

with real mastery
of the craft,

art

but by an
organic fusion, is direct
merely by juxtaposition,
be rightfully
called a masterpiece,
and powerful.Such
a work
may
think I am
and I do not
merely imagining the importance of the
illustrate the point by some
feature. Let me
now
examples from
works.
of art, and, in a way, philosophical
the various branches
not

The

best

examples

that field that

the

are

idea

in

in fact,it is from
literature,

originated.Take

studyof

Shakespeare's dramas:

Humor

there
odd

is

does

sunshine, and
sometimes

not

drying

the listeners'

up

the connection

misses

of these characters

wonders, and

comical

perhaps the

most

perfectpicture of

in many

such

is either

the

on

shows

the

Tale

Winter's

his

of

most

other

is
wit

plays

Dostoyevsky's novels

Idiot,the chief character, Myshkin, is

Moliere's
masterpieces are
touchingly humorous.
in his

ways

his farcical comedies, rather those, such

not

does

union, gravity and

the other.

or

one

the appearance

consider

His
a

in

half-and-half, while

present

reading, one

performance

perfect harmony.

in

serious:
basically

are

in such

with

atmosphere

When

to

an

adequate direction

artificial.An

as

dark

tears.

is led

and

seeing the play

tragic and

emphasis

flooding the

appear,

in which

them

murderous, bloody tragedy among

no

character

being

157

as

Tartuffe,in which
standing
outplays the most

Goethe's
Among
is his Faust, uniting tragedy and
comedy in a manner
serious
his other, strictly
probably unparalleledin world literature;
plays,such as his Tasso, do not stand comparison with the former.

comedy

and

of the

One

blend.

drama

that Ibsen's

reasons

dramas

are

masterpiecesis

true

no

probably their exceedingly bleak, entirely humorless

character,
like scientific documents
in dramatic
making them sound
form;
his Peer

is

Gynt

genius.Dickens's
humor

and

his Pickwick
serious

of
lucky exception and perhaps his only work
sadmasterpiece is David Copperfield,in which ness

Club

in all its excellence

as

The

Old

Man's

divided;his Cyrano

is

exists works

There

Tale.

of humor.

is

is

reason

As

mentioned

their

is of such

is

serious

one

and

comedy

philosophicalworks

tragedy.

have

no

just that:

no

such
trace

general appeal today is

degree that it outweighs

Tolstoy'sWar

of the great

be

may

be mentioned

elements;stillit is a

practicallyabsent, but
as

gloomy

Rostand

Rabelais may

counterpart,

satire without

Chapter 33) it ranks

We

of

genius
Euripides'tragediesare

puzzling instance

element

dose of

in literature that

limited,although their power

work

the necessary

opinions on

masterlyfusion

Sophocles' and
of humor.
Perhaps for that

whose

lacked

The

of

blend.

their lack

felt that

must

included, rather unconnectedly,such

element, and

stories

have

He

uniquely amalgamated.

are

and

for

novels

Peace:
other

sical
the whim-

reasons

of world

earlier. One

piece.
master-

(see

literature.

might

say,

that

is

carryingthe

idea

contain

rather

they show

which

induces

to

in the

read

Two

readable

enjoyablephilosophersare Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. Try

read the former's Aphorisms or the latter'swritingson Wagner:
spiced with

what

with

clever,sparklingpassages

such

mincing words,

They

mean.

are

of

on

quite unexpected for

How
the

obvious:

of such

work

painting?Does

about

extent

painting covers

is

asking too

found, and

not

so

pathetic,
yet

suppress

Visit e is

La
a

smile
The

examined.

comical
her

as

mother.

at

the

drama

into

elements

devoid

not

their

Shoes
of

is
or

single

may

be

his Chair

and

humor; it is precisely

melancholy. Toulouse-

serious

sight of the
Peeler

subject,yet one cannot

women
waiting for being
of Terborch

to

comes

my

worried, the little girlpositively

very serious,even
from
under her big hat she looks

Henri

Rousseau's

situation that could

comic

Gogh's

enhances

certainlya

of loneliness and

sensation

time

same

subjectthan

to

reason

there the combination

even

delightful
Apple

the mother

mind:

the

The

comic

rarely.Van

very

at

Yet

qualitythat

this latter
Lautrec's

much.

in that art? Not

admitted.

be

must

novel; compression of tragic and

canvas

authenticityand scholarliness.

narrower

witticism,

refreshingfrankness;not

thesis hold

our

in literature,it

as

much

so

using the strongest and most

will laugh aloud in a manner

the

contrary,
that
picturesque expressions,
you

at

styleand expression

Philosopherswritingin a dry,
only; a layman,
by professionals

you'llsee

are

of the word,

sense

will find the reading laborious.

intellectual,

an

of

not,

smile.

to

are

usual

liveliness of

poignancy and

manner

in that field do

works

passages

the reader

matter-of-fact
even

of the Genius

far. Great

too

humorous

course,

and

Nature

The

158

calls forth

Sleeping Gypsy

desolation
be labeled:

in addition

to

danger

unseen

curiously up
the

picturing the
is

no

danger.

paintingsdo not often unite the two opposing

in certain masterly series.
elements, they are frequently found
Thus the series Caprichosof Goya is an overwhelming presentation
While

individual

humans; the eighty etchingsform

of mankind, revealing it in its monstrous

of all that is base and ridiculous in

a

forceful

indictment

degradationand
In

ridiculousness.

to
music, one
applying the principle

in music

is

not

identical with

the

gay

must
or

realize that humor

livelyelement.

The

Humor

of
necessity
been

felt

alternation

an

by

and

gay

sonatas

and

symphonies.

Humor

is

is

after the

Beckmesser's

prize

holds

same

Modern

deserves

have

high opinion of

previous connection,

musical
much.

duty

do

music

Their

lover

of inner
but

nothing

angle, it
latter

is the

point

is

as

composer

One

humorous

motifs, and

of

music.

people with little

not

count

practicallytheir
artists. It is the

of.
present

music

day

accordingly boring; in

content,

absence

Many

century

it is

contemporary

follows:

as

think of

not

professionalmen;

think

we

twentieth

opinion accordinglydoes

the result of

is much

too

cases

many

plainbluffing.
Judged from

it

another

of musical

beauty they object to. This

justified.
Taking such a significant

certainlyoften

is overlooked

work

in

many,

may

be absent.

expressivenessand
Take

chief feature of

as

other

attributes

is

not

it may

be

masterpieces.

are

as

other

present

especially

humor.

Alban

continuous
a
essentially

translatingBiichner's

masterfully.

genius, and,

not
necessary. As long
melodiousness
in the

These

first is strikingin modern

absent.

or

objections.Beauty

of

as

it is

found, beauty,

are

connotation,

of

in these

listed in this essay

it is present

attributes

course,

do

we

work

characteristic

noted, it is not

it is

precisely his

Bartok, it is difficult to find beauty in his six string

point

necessary

The

is

as

for instance.

quartets,

While

the

objectionsare

noisy,void

of

think

we

commend

to

average

seems

understanding,whose
Nor

laugh,such

us

in this connection.

specialmention

As

and

ments.
move-

origin.It

recent

more

masterpiece

of serious

blend

do

in

of

in

jubilantchoral

that makes

Wagner's

people

not

is found

for Strauss's Rosenkavalier.

true

music

in which

preceding majesticallyserious

construction

song.

Meistersinger,a unique
the

Ninth

something different,and

sparklingand witty

technique

same

have

must

gay

resultingin suites

Beethoven's

In

the

and

serene

alternate. The

tunes

follows

of the

of all times,

composers

serious

movement

159

opera

Berg's

in which

Wozzek

wailing,a

most

drama

into

as

beauty is conspicuously
a

typicalexample:

expressivewailing,of
music

adequately and

The

160

It

humor

is

humor

often

is

listener

objective

for

literature

where

the

usual

The

throughout:
such

of

music

march:

of

and

symphonic
the

moreover,

wide

the

successful

highly

additional

appeal.

is

sufficiently

holds,

beauty:
be

the

by

an

artistic

for

way,

Shandy,

Tristram

termed

beautiful

the

music

music.

fanciful

work

excel

Concerto,
his

lyrical,

and
The

but

and

Romeo

the

original
works

requirements

Juliet-

delightful

most

lesser

humor.
the

these

discussed

composers
so

far:

the

whimsical

Both

mixture.

of

enrichment

ones,

In

element

humorous

of

dominates

also
in

modern

to

element

compositions,

best

of

credited

be

must

introduced

Shostakovich

and

humor

Oaks

think
with

blends

element

of

Dumbarton

Prokofieff"

and

word.

his

only

not

the

as

the

it

same

scarcely

Stravinsky's

In

The

expressiveness,

Besides

compositions;

that

admit

replaces

could

admixture

generous

composers.

he

of

sense

to

often

witty,

here.

century

melodies.

humor

extremely

while

have

will

Genius

with

twentieth

in

beautiful

substitute

in

found

the

of

concerned

are

we

Nature

into

the

the

ology
phrase-

satisfy,
originality

The

162

of the Genius

Nature

tionally
important than they are. Some scientists indulge in intendifficult language, often with an unnecessarilycomplicated
technical display to present a result that could be put into quite
formulas. To
or
simple sentences
step farther,there are
go one
distort the truth; it
who
and inventors
discoverers
intentionally

more

them at this place at all,were

be necessary
to mention
for the circumstance
that, curiouslyenough, they often

would
it

not

not

the

claim

designation of masterpiece for

that

work

and often plainlyfraudulent. This only

insignificant
involved
This questionof sinceritybecomes
more
it is not
arises because
always easy to find
difficulty
a

is "sincere"

work

decide?
be

We

divided

Mann's

The

Some

the

on

Magic

sentences

rely on

must

matter.

Mountain

style is
at

might

Indeed, who

not.

or

end

say

that the

The

arts.

whether

out

tell? Who

can

that

It is thinkable

should

work

will

such

as

this

spect.
re-

judged differentlyin

be

elaborate, complex, with

easy:

of which

the

in

passing.

subjectivejudgment. Opinions

our

may

not

in

best is

at

one

long
might forget the beginning.
unnatural, others

style is affected and

with the author's

might defend the elaborate styleas concomitant
own
probablyjustas elaborate.
thoughts and feelingswhich were
tured
and culhis "pleasurein using correct
himself expresses
Mann
less
It depends more
in his Transposed Heads.
words"
or
the reader is able to follow the complicatedthoughts
whether
on
touch here on
earlier,that
of the author. We
a
point,mentioned
a
masterpiece relies on the receptiveabilityof its audience, and
be
that proper
expected only from quarters
judgments may

possessinga high degree

of such

In that
ability.

sense,

then, the

sincere carries
opinion of those who consider the Magic Mountain
weight than that of others.
more
of what the creator
Sincerityin art impliesa direct presentation
with his visionary eyes. The
more
of the work
sees
closelyhe

reproduces it, the

the

more

It is

changes

possiblethat

because

it;he

man

he

the

more

this

on

true

the

led

to

becomes

vision,the

originalform

changes which

masterpiece; the

less

is not
presentation

realizes that in its

is then

work

perfectthe

always
only

few

easy,

chiefly

might

grasp

although
vision.
original

he thinks necessary,

actuallythey spoilthe beauty and greatness of the

result.

Sincerity
One

can

that it often

see

alterations which
short

genius

attractiveness.
superficial

to

Tchekov's
with

told

are

are

did

it need

unpretentious stories taken from everyday

the
this example stands in contrast
to
note,
may
This
is strikingin its simplicity,the Magic
one
similar in their sincerity,
its complexity; they are

tell these

to

life? As

from

abstain

to

masterpieces in this respect; they

nearly wonders,
simplicityso that one

stories

extreme

an

self-constraint

needs

might add

163

you

previous

one.

Mountain

in

being faithful pictures of their authors' vision.

works
of art dealing with the fanciful and fantastic;
There
are

both

poet

harsh; it is

too

visions

painter have

or

given

not

have

such

imagination can
before, the answer

said

to

look

to

us

products of

been

that

art

of
were

being

There

wrong.

replicaof the
prejudice or

is

the

it

and

is

be part

that may

ending delight when

similar
a

lack

all the

thing that
to

the

to

artistic

are

great

be

it could

that

be made

never

can

field for

it is
there

accusers

be

not

by

heated

many
is

The

artistic
Bible

activity,and,

is such

at

have a
religiouspaintings may
not
religiouscan, in spiteof
are

of true
delightin those masterworks
need
do not
ligion,
repeople today who
in the increase. Science
suppliesthem
not

give.Yet

there

overlooked, all the beauty the world

who, since earliest times, have

activity.The

work:

composed it,
people who
of its lastingvalue. Our
never

knowledge religioncould

cannot

As

ancient

secret

looking

their number

and
with

of the

spiritual
resonance,

simplicity.There

all times

that the

know

unusual

mostly sincere.

people who

even

reason;

of

vast

the heart of those

from

came

so

no

the insincere.

from

true

which

one

by

say,

opinions.Careful, impartialstudy will, in

Religious subjects form

it seems,

truthful

are

by contemporaries
Bronze
cused
acAge, was

The

fraud; we

vision. Decisions

man's

premature

time, separate

work

no

is here

attacked

were

statue,

mold, hence

sincere.

considered

artist's soul. At

the

into

can

judgment

Our

be

work

how

by necessitysubjective,since

is

stamped artificial.Rodin's

and

sincere:

be

unrealistic?

so

of

stretch

could

possible,indeed, that such works

modern
painting: some
might

very

presentations.Take

we

these

whether

might wonder

one

world

would

miss

been

is

one

owes

inspiredby faith

uncounted

treasures

The

164

in the absence

of that

Genius

of the

Nature

faith,the

of

source

excellingin

treasures

sincerity.
Compulsion
It is related

as

looking for! Of
might spice his composition
have

we

musician

here

been

by the

characteristic of

the work"

sincerityof

the

to

earlier

mentioned

was

lesser educated

is

order

in

of his

strata

tions
of the rela-

one

inspired

an

even

course,

wider

find

to

genius.

feel

public.We

ceptance
ac-

pity

having had the strengthto withstand the temptation.

is
An
relation
clear.
can
uninspired man
Often, however, the

for him

hardly

for

be

not

imagined

by vision,or,

vored
produce anything sincere: if he is not falet us say, if there is no
pulsion
quasi-externalcom-

to

active, there is virtuallynothing he could

and

loses
sincerity

of art,

works

lacked

have

been

illustrated

the artist must

feelingthat

is difficult to

call such

it

sincere:

work

determination.

sober

product of

rather the

by taking up

matter

considered

not

this

to

up

point:

sentimentality.

Sentimentalityin
in

is taboo

sentimentalbasicallycorrect, ity
trash" these are nearly
Sentimentality,
sweetness,

art.

Everyday experience

which

shows

in the

that kind

is

them.

of

sweet

now_precisely

It

element.

latter has

Their

shows, hit

is

demand

that those

seems

of relaxation

specialand

for

not

than

memories
what

who

tunes-

mand
de-

who

attracted

are

understandable

fine

peal
ap-

rather

art,

for

for

ment,
amuse-

conducive

it softens the heart by

sentimentality:

of the past, and

wanted.

was

magazine

art"

is

lucrative,those

of all the

that commercial

for the purpose

art

this desired reaction

awakening

of this instinctive

base

it
perfectlylegitimate.People want
littlelaugh,for a little cry. Nothing is more

relaxation,and
for

the

at

pictures,musical

sentimental

by the sentimental;the

rather

are

us

motion
stories,illustrations,

for

cording
in itself.Ac-

contradiction

sentimentality?

from

abound

is

art

expressions.What

synonymous
recoil

of

work

general notions

to

to

the

suppress

ultramodern

certain

is
concluding this discussion, the importance of sincerity

In

it is

cannot

we

with

meaning. Faced

It
inspiration.

have

must

its

faithful to,

be

wish

sentimentalitythey

are

Since
to

able

tears

the demand

benefit
to

of

by

muster.

joy and

sorrow

is great

it will
Products

make

and
use

of this

Sincerity

have

nature
a

only
of

work

great

the

art

sentimentality had

in

those

in

condone

the

it; on

contrary,

instinctively avoids
is because

the

sincerely felt
the

not

or

and

of

acceptable

the

work

is the

sincere, that

there

are

of

music

do

Gustav

impressive creations, abound

are

many

who

of great

had

this

on

music.

It

presented those
Strauss

dissatisfied with

hold,"
death.

impelled
certainly
upon

his

emotional,
It is

whom

only

to

did

vent
not

he

was

lot, "mir

continually

his
do

could

great

that

mood
in
not

in
order
count

deal

make

dieser

such

Welt

by
a

from
wish

anyhow.

acclaim

in

ard
Rich-

his

with

phonic
symgreat

his nature;

man,

very

much
nicht

Gluck

which

of

realm

as

of

forebodings

passages

there

that Mahler

manner,

das

ample
ex-

lengthy

the

disposition he

the

This

and

passages

melancholy

win

our

versial
contro-

ways.

of his life and

sentimental
to

and

elements

these

on

disturbed

with

work

such

auf

war

sincerity,of

passages,

restricted

included

life and

the

symphonies,

only

can

more

unhappy,

an

natural

his

one

enlarged

know

we

he

that

he

Mahler

Yet

consistency. Now,
know

in

passages

His

dismiss

admitted,

whenever

did

work.

we

be

must

of

matter

it is

both

in sentimental

account

Whether

of

this connection:

Mahler.

and

This

like.

arguments

many

artist

great

excuse

even

not

be, truly and

partly
of

thing
some-

do

passages.

power

jecting
re-

element
we

may

study

it may
not

in

example

an

and

case,

is the

such

otherwise

we

mention

us

is

case

only by

is

tolerated.

be

can

before,

said

as

judged
Yet

man.

trait

be

is,

that

sentimental

including the

can

the

feeling that
Let

when

the

as

composer,

trait is sincere

conjecture
character

or

convinced

are

there

that

some

to

us

sentimental

stressed

exceptionally it

it. Yet

author
so

the

be

that

inducing

then, that

It appears,

we

find

we

without

should

It

upon.

with

associate

we

art,

counterbalancing

frowned

otherwise

of

them,

into

so

sweetness.

works

question.

works

such

of

certain

crept

works

the

value, and

absence

however,

Analyzing,

artistic

rarely

165

his

often

was

he

the

quite
masses

31

POWER

In
a

the

pondering
of

work

be

may

called
that

great?

art

the

shows

and

call for
in

its

to

that

him

of

the

the

to

genius"

such

that

while

Power,

its frankness
in

all

Burghers

of

nerves,

work

much

is

the

Calais.

unless

his

not

of

of

art:

It

not

conceit

as

This

rude.
Goethe's

work
is weak

lack

that

yet

it

level

it

as

cannot

weaknesses:
is

mon
com-

Faust, Dostoyev-

Rodin's

person

I said that

too.

of

The

feature

for

not

just

Its indifference

Kreutzer-Sonata,
is

fair

hobby"

humanity

frailties and

our

in

of

obvious

so

hours

talent.

rudeness.

that

intentions, by

certain

terpiece
mas-

of

mark

utmost

elevate

work

invariably

rugged.

dejection,

166

with

leisure

our

uncouth,

Beethoven's

receptivity
to

in

us

spite of best

level

own

powerful

inducive

one

does
or

the

be

writing

or

is sometimes

Odyssey,

is

possible. A

must

higher than

of

pride

no

conspicuous

is

proud,

works

be

whole.

that

were

it will

most

is

which

powerful

sky's Possessed,

weak

the

considerations

by

is

such

in

produced,

our

as

manner

highest, the

approach

for

power

may
so

work

humiliate, rather

to

out,

is the

way

unconcern

obstructed

hence

no

work

such

turn

be

cannot

in

powerful

whole, its

be

It

could

impress the viewer

by painting

might

humans

toward
a

works

diligent study, by

most

which

height, if
with

ture
fea-

expression of might,

There

certainty. Many

power.

that

masterpiece

of

us

what

powerful

its

in

intended

own

has

humanity

with

makes

unimportant

not
art

what

calm, entirely impersonal, similar

stars

not

of their

imitation

an

feature:

the

the

and

such

and

elation.

majestic and

impresses

imitate

to

of

listener

for

feel it with

we

work

smallness, yet

might,

level

but

others

or

own

sun

that

try

viewer

it is

vague

here:

us

prefers,strength. A

dejection, rather

power;

great

above

his

quiet, detached
him

one

literallytowers

overwhelms

as

if

or,

occupies

seemingly

mentioned.

power,

that

question

can

be

with
ful
power-

disturbing,

Power

and

to

small

no

by writing his

that he

much

of the

novel

said earlier of Ibsen, which

if he

even

power,

be

may

unkind

Of Persons
practically
nothing

are

Notebook

intensity.Barlach's

of other

absence

good opportunityto study

Whitgood examples, such as man's

except

are

brief that

so

of

Some

power.

Drawings

or

and

his travels. Most

during
in

man

if you

except

characteristic

One

power.

saying, it

feels

one

of great

peasant

tire

not

the

woman

study them,
only repeat, nothing,

not

the

feature

of

even
frills,

strength,devoid

in the

nature

person,

could

we

describe

cannot

is abstract

glance into

them,

does

One

pose.

is in

asked, what

consist of

Chopin's

only sketches,
impressions of

are

reference

quite complete, fixing for future

artist

though
al-

ture
minia-

even

Preludes

and

Dance.

Miracles; they

else is in them

of

belong here; listeningto them

the spellof a superior power
if thunderstruck, under

Etudes
as

short poems
Arrived
and

cause

complexity,

not

that feature. Some

can

Strindberg'sDeath

can

complicating elements, they offer

were

certainlyhas

his Ghosts

features, and

necessarilyrelated to length or
works
they often go together.In principle,
of the
size may
be powerful,in fact,because
is

Power

words

he

justified;
yet

another

his burden

unload

to

title. Some

sleepless
nights.So

some

person

had
finally

same

other

lacks

disturbed

Kreutzer-Sonata

degree. The

genius,Tolstoy,so

167

to

than

better

of

by

beauty;

rough.

are
just
genius are powerful, in fact,many
division of masterpiecesinto
is an interesting
the opposite.There
other
have spoken. The
main
and it is only of one
we
two
groups,
but by grace; again we
is characterized
use
not
by power,
group

Not

word

that

applied in
hampering
certain

does

lieu of
us

words

should

words

have

have

We

and

invented.

in their

shade. Quasi-external force

Here

we

say,

accomplished, elegant.

we

grace,

must

learn

meaning

to

such

was

work

the

comprehend
a

to

use

strictly

did not,
On

presumptuous.

using old

another.

forced

for which

hand, when
new

been

has been

expressingconcepts

extravagant

are

of words

matter

we

been

is

meaning completely, and

irksome

occasions:

of

means

words

words

better. This

various

as

the

describe

not
a

on

speaking new
new

of

all works

since

other
them

word, sincerity
that is delicate,

Nature

The

168

How

then,

is it

there

are

of the Genius
kinds

reallytwo

think of is,yes and

we
can
only answer
the powerful and the graceful,there is

might wonder,

one

the other?
steps above
inclined to think
are

graceful.So
only

that

powerful

We

think

Debussy, Raphael and

Monet.

unbiased

observer!

thought of
will

in

work

is

or

be

it. Yet

one

few

divided;we
the

higher than

ranks

kinds

two

are

about

point may

masterpieces,unless

of

then would
be very rigorous;we
and that is the powerful.

one

work

this

on

graceful masterpiece:

equal rank,

kinds,

two

are

little doubt

Opinions
the

There

no.

have

to

want

we

of

two

there

see,

you

the

are

masterpieces?The

of

say, there is

to

before
vista opens
up
of Heine
and Rostand, Mozart

what

the

of these could

None

and

rightfully

be

particularlypowerful, still the greatness of their

hardly be questioned.Power, indeed, is not necessary
I say,
excel in their counterpart,
of genius, some
may
as

The

in the feminine.

de Reichstadt

of the Due

drama

be

would

quite differently
by Sophocles, if he lived today,since the
saw
powerful elements;the sicklyRostand
subject contains many
in the subject and
rather the touching, the weak, the feminine
written

fashioned

his drama

personality,the viewpoint and

decides which
aspect of a subjecthe

the

he

of
specialabilities,

His

executes.

special feature

A
less

genius that
and which, accordingly,

and

sees,

aside such

harmony.

holds

graceful art, typical of

in

true

for

powerful, are
of

is apt

Power

to

as

Euripides, and
in

rounded

slipin the latter,no

works

decisive part.
and
the group

perfectionin style,rhyme, rhythm

mentioned
Ibsen before:
one
certainlycannot
the styleof his plays is crude,
exquisitestylist;
matters

power.

The

their form,

form

perfect in classical music, while

to

of

him

for

was

the

the

thought,

truth, without

degree the

lesser

Oscar

or

concession

to

pinnacle of

that

Against these the plays of Rostand

in

play a

course,

praise him as an
mattered
utilitarian.What
matter-of-fact,
the principles,bursting forth in search
for beauty.Perhaps to
consideration
a

no

of the

inclination

frequent in the other, is perfection of form.

brush

lace. It is

accordingly, like lovely Venetian

same

Faust.

power,

Wilde, while far from

style and

there

metre;

is

surging thoughts, as found

Haydn

Beethoven

is

perhaps the

could

not

be

most

halted

The

170

understand

same

that

for
refined

for

appreciated.
David's

painting,
du

of
less

the

lost

works

of

because

to

mind

the

can

contrast:

when

is

conveyed

and

world,

world

of

Rilke's

thinking

this

poetry

of

these

doubly

of

the

taste,

but

none

group,

rather

striking

France's

novels

Anatole
in

good

graceful

refinement,

rarities

and

today

decried

or

perhaps

reason

in

The

Chopin's

d'Haussonville

perfections

aristocracy,

display

of

this

Comtesse

are

time.

excellence,

for

just

his

much

par

characteristic

also

of

by

luxury

d'Ognes

Val

Genius

artistocracy

Ingres's

While

exquisite.

the

nocturnes:

realistic

Charlotte

powerful

come

his

our

In

remnants

the

refinement

instance,

the

of

for

composed

of

impression

music,
too

he

Nature

art.

32

COMPLEXITY

The

from

word

the

path, they
one

the

that

now

difficult

explained that while

is

of

one

work
to

the

the

reasons:

his

turn

attention

the

what

time

same

continual

various

in

turnings

viewer

of

at

the

these

background;

possible

strain, marring

the

listener

or

forgetting

not

the

in

or

become

easily

may

of the

part

was

Here

strata.

character

directions,

underneath

was

educated

multi-dimensional

requires special ability on

It

geographic barriers,

the

appreciation by

to

now

standing
under-

makes

inexperienced.

and

are

well,

as

course,

transcends

masterpiece

it is still restricted

uninitiated

the

particular

one

directions
of

This,

dominating.

for

following

other

in

time

same

borrow

me

masterpieces

that

say

of

Instead

Let

complex.

and

mathematicians,

at

go

is

masterpieces

multi-dimensional.

mostly
this

of

majority

enjoyment.
This

complexity

its visual

by

the

on

from

the

on

of

part

the

who

one

Athenian

and

example

little

Lorentz
great
This

feature

of

theory

Einstein

and

masterpieces
complexity,
of

vocal

are

cated
compli-

scores,

cannot

be

although

masterpiece.

and

perceived

The

171

true

for

Maxwell's

by

means

Hertz,
of

enjoyment

cheaply.

fairly general,
are

be

can

only by

extension

encompassed.

There

of

beauty

if its further

acquired

holds

same

scenes

sacrificial

and

groups,

and

be

light can
be

fighting

study. The
value

Parthenon

the

on

numerous

study

enjoyment

superficialobserver

the

real

to

friezes

the

which

opera

maximum

derive

equestrian

study, particularly

strenuous

motifs,

its

detailed

masterpieces. The

electromagnetic
of

to

are

with

Centaur,

appreciated only through

scientific

to

wants

Acropolis:

it offers

processions

Wagner

philosophical implications requires quite

Another

work.

Lapith

between

orchestration,

aspects,

and

text

exemplified by

be

may

some

is

not

characterized

necessary

by

re-

Nature

The

172

markable

simplicity.By making

might

one

that

say

some

such

often

with

the

works

too

not

are

easier

enjoyed much
Folk

products belong
survival in time, spread
well

as

truly

Grimm,

of these

creators

old

folk

and

Greek

products
creators

part

were,

from

Transition

varies

they

can

Youth's

they

those

as

poems,

Brothers

the

by

bled
assem-

The

Horn.

Magic
anonymous

like the

sculptors.The

qualityof

remain

considerably,but part at least of the anonymous

of genialcaliber,while another
doubt, men
no

to

one-

imitators

only.

multi-dimensional

works

may

be

touched

by

of

means

composer,

more

in this category,

of folk songs. As soon

as
they are
of dimensions
the number
increases,and

by

gether
to-

place: their

first

belong

folk

ecclesiastic

medieval

the

the

collected

those

unknown,

are

evident

character

in

in The

probablyexcellent

were

studied

as

Brentano

and

Arnim

by

terested
in-

are

uninitiated.

songs

pieces,and

immortal

We

art.

they

continents, their originalityand

over

tales, such

folk

as

result

therefore, the

are,

this group

in

Folk
questioned.

be

sinceritycannot

and

by the

even

Quite

requirements. Generally,

one-dimensional

this

as

one

various

our

is
simplicity

other

our

numerous,

of

Because
interesting.
be

of

presence

with

of

works

which

in

directions.

genius, and

of

follow

They

comply

among

works

in those

previousterminology,

other

in

not

work

given consideration

only
such

do

simple products

be

cannot

of the

use

deviate

not

requirements pertinent to

Genius

one-dimensional.

are

do

particularpath and

the

of

art

they become

Hungarian folk songs set to music

by Liszt, Brahms, Kodaly and Bartok. Particularlyin the music
of the latter the original
simple tune has entirelylost its simplicity
complex.

and

This

increase

to

the

understandability.Variations

easy

mostly

happened

on

in

in

classical music, based

simple themes, offer further objects for study of

this

complexity.

the intriguing
of folk art, we
come
to
Leaving the domain
In literature
masters.
territoryof simple works created by known
a
good example is The Pickivick Papers. It is reallya series of

simple and
the

humorous

artistic value

stories,written

incidents,put into the form

of the work
and

is obvious.

painted by

Wilhelm

The

of

novel, yet

humorous

Busch, offer

picture
another

Complexity

example.
finest

In

Widow.

such

since

nature,

The
limit

they

either
there

Are

there

are

of

respect.

simple

works

facts

of

law

at

simplicity

in

and

from

away

of

will,

judge

of

gas.

closer

that

of
the

this

eral.
ephemshift

course,

the

of

simple

inspection,
There

and

is

no

one

analogy

sight.

Newton's

Mariotte

simplicity
when

or

first

at

equivalents,

Boyle
the

However,

although

not,

are

appear

electrochemical

law

disappears.

There

science?

laws

the

gravitation,

deceiving;

the

step

one

of

waltzes

works

assessing

in

its
The

and

the

quote

may

careful

only
of

taste

Faraday's

pressure

detail,

often

we

in

quoted

Mikado,

The

Bat,

vein
be

must

are

The

be

may

direction.

some

are

law

One

operetta

as

similar

individual

in

Such

In

Strauss.

Johann

is

classical

representations,

Merry

the

the

music

1 7 3

concerning

of

these

goes
with

relations

into

arts

greater
in

this

33

MIRROR

The

is in

viewpoint

next

plentifullyemphasized
of

of

work

such

could

be

the

times

by

it, captured,
to

try

the

whence

is

along with

go

the

relation

having

each

be

not

pertinent
a

to

timelessness
of

connections

in

times, surrounded

our

influence

that

been

in

rooted

way

impossible, inhuman

be

from

some

that

genius is simply

and

the

to

even

actually derive

to

attempts

not

sociological considerations.

thesis

such

We

not
can-

outgrowth

an

of

realism

and

their

of

the

as

of

art

and

the

naturalism,

the

age.

The

be

can

of

that

our

relation

times, also vice

174

as

well

well

with

the

the

is
versa:

into
rococo,

early nineteenth

turning

present

ages,

subdivided

in
is

art

intricate,
great

art

faithful
not

writers

if
or

may

changes

respect
recent

shorter
is that
century

its latter
a

as

philosophy,

as

known

century,

romanticism,
while

felt the

have

sense

all feel

times, medieval

ancient

eighteenth

luxury,
and

times:

These

present.

idealism

of

the

the

this

times; this

people

of

unique; changes

is

recent

rapid. Arts,

of

aspect

In

nature.

period

students

by

abrupt. We

in

each

on

detail

years

more

all times

time

own

periods

technical

result

in

economic

especially fast
at

is based

times

thousand

three

past

perhaps

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refinement

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and

cultural

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main

periods. The

the

arts

picture of this

history and

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in

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changes

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peculiar features, expounded

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century

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And
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of the

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another

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genius from

phenomenon

let

originates. We
a

with

This

27.

contrast,

There

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TIMES

contrast

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in

THE

Chapter

its influence.

escape

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In

genius.

work

OF

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mirror

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con-

of the Times

Mirror

siderable

in

part

changing

Goethe, Marx, and,

This

close

we

Most

people

between

spend their lives;they

certain

digest a
the

to

long

alluded

danger

their efforts in
art.

While

due

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it would

sacrifices

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at

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traced

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which

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plentifully
it

makes

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in and

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possible

of
creating works
loss of masterpieces
efforts of

Present, misdirected
as

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excluded, have

not

wasting

of

lament

them

to

the

as

well

too

produced

arts.

he escape

does

manner

instead

altar of the

that

talented men's

of these

money

exists also for

danger

to

some

peculiar

reason

elevated

situation

exaggerated to

the

its

livingby practisingarts as
these current
topics. The

of all times, ours

men

in all branches

what

be

be
certainly

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This

consists in

to

only

This

them.

actuallymake

to

as

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talents

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precisely

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men

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accordingly, willing to

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dailytopics around

for talented

that

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interested

are

Voltaire,

Rousseau,

Schweitzer.

profession in

did

as

times

profession,and

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talk

can

times,

it appears,

as

relation

the

for

danger

the

175

the

the

the

genius, and

question is,in

temptation? There

two

are

ways

for him.

open

One

the

avoids

pitfallby deliberatelyturning

subjects.Some
from

former

where

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fanciful

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use

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can

for their

subjects;we
are
imaginary. There

and

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creators

not

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fulfillthe other

have

and

field

vast

group

dwell

on

of this kind,

large audience in their

posterity,provided they
a

for

requirements.Poe's

who

fine works

always find
survive

those

rent
cur-

subjects

untimely topics.Another

fantastic

of artists choose
the

or

to
flight
historyand choose
legendarymaterial. There is a

their

take

times

from

away

tales fall into

Hoffmann's

this group.
Art
many

as

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subjectsare
In

purely historical

of

works

not

seem

at

first sight.Many

reallyescapistsfrom

realitythey picturetheir

vein. We
media.

And

might
with

quote

fanciful

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here

own

this consideration

artists who

the

times in

Gulliver's
I

an

not

are

choose

dangers of

Travels
am

nature

the

remote

Present.

or
allegorical
or

coming

the Divina
to

the main

as

satirical
Corn-

point,

The

176

the

second

Nature

in which

way

of

the Genius

artists avoid

truly great

the

of
pitfalls

actualities.
The

does

greatest

absorbs

it. His
work

union

be

needs

and

effort will
be

must

time

same
as

genius

out

become

direct

mirror

vidual
original,indi-

of the

times. This

chief features

it. There

hope

of this

requirement of

never

the

time, he faces and

creating an

achieve

to

work

is

his

of the

one

in
deliberately,

later times, carry

violates our
man

of

consists

considered

masterpiece.It

knowingly

the

at

from

away

achievement

that

may

turn

not

true

others who,

are

be

to

of

appreciated by

Unfortunately,such
and his
spontaneity and sincerity,
nature.

masterpiece. The idea, the impulse

natural, not
contrived, in order to lead to

and

anything of lastingvalue.
Such

work

than

more

It offers
will, indeed, be appreciatedby posterity.

vivid. Our

main

heritageof

art

all,not

we

works:

the

Odyssey: what

it represents!Or
eyes,
wealth
strange,

of

some

is

epochs

obtain

these
on

the

times.

with

what

Maupassant and

absorb

pleasure we
Balzac

morals
illogical,

not

ways

information

much

our

picture of the early Greek

period
Old England stands vividlybefore our

Dickens:

knowledge!

in

livelyand

missing. And

detail

no

it is

epics,dramas, novels, paintings.From

of former

customs

because

of the details of life in past

source

only students, can

habits and
Take

historical document

mere

tell

that

about

us

of married

the

life in Paris

in the first half of the nineteenth

ness
century, and that with a vividscientific treatise could
value
and precisionno
surpass. The
becomes
of such art work
strikingwhen compared with the countless

novels that have

of

before; books
years. Even
the
an

excellent

"what?

written

are

it could

picture of

contains

of

wealth

hardly
London
a

different
of

portraitsthat
of timeliness and

current

matters,

be
at

called
the

mentioned

only for
does

of the century,

turn

feature stressed earlier. Proust's

caliber;while

not

few
hit

masterpiece.Although

an

array

of

timeless. It is this remarkable

timelessness that constitutes

it lacks

fifteen

picture of his time,

beauty, philosophy,and
seem

read

as

Galsworthy'sForsyte Saga

as

believe,power,

volumes

on

value,
merely journalistic
work

such

mark, and

been

the real

it

logical
psychounion

masterpiece.

34

SEX

We

in

have
of

on

In

works

of

of

good

that

matter

The
a

in

on

would

that

works

the
of

highest caliber.
in

art,

in

On

the

there

those

other

be

must

such

hand,
this

stressed

later.

following.

somewhere

the

of

be

It
in

openly

presentation

in

mentioned

was

contradiction

logical error

in accord

not

presented

are

an

which

to

generally considered

are

can

it

be

to

was

is the

point

sex

is

sex

dominant
pre-

physical

seems

detail

greater

of

that

rather

latter

this

this

at

aspects

How

taste.

in

answered

of

aspects

art.

sometimes

there

genius, where

treated

physical

bad

Obviously

be

be

to

of

in works

power

and

esthetics, according

of

orating
elab-

by

masterpieces of

to

Now,

importance

off

spiritual but

noted.

principle

The

question

fact

many

rather

its

features

essential

rounded

occurrence

only

not

generally

taste.

3 1

the

be

may

presentation of the physical

Chapter

is

frequent

sex,

the

discussing

discussion

the

art

be
elements, may
unwritten
law, or

with

of

particular subject pertaining

open

GENIUS

OF

end

genius. The

role

the

WORKS

the

to

come

work

IN

is supposedly

resolved?

in the

reasoning

above.

The
in

some

Up

to

of
a

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way

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have

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work

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to

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of

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moral

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thesis:

genius.

It

in

as

such

Chapter
has

rather

178

has
13.

kind

in

works

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a

not

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Here

equally
from

can

sirable
unde-

seemingly

flavor?

will

problem

of

essential

are

the

sexual

is then

foregoing chapters.

incorporating

morality

is then

in the

answer

strongly

chapter

features
to

while

masterpiece

following. Morality

of
work

have

we

this

discussed

asked, what

feature, namely
The

in

with

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to

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we

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have
to

esthetic

upon

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the
do

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terpart
coun-

with

angle that

this
be

179

of

of the erotic in works

genius,will

treated.
its very

By

and
to

inclusion

problem, the

of Genius

in Works

Sex

sculpture.Music,

lesser

subject is restricted

the

nature

degree, since

will

too,

its

be

literature,painting

to

dealt with,

is
expressiveness

although only

straightforward,

never

merely suggestive.
fall.
deliberatelyavoided the pitThis is easy for a painter;even
the complete shunning of
for his activity.In this
erotic subjects leaves many
fields open
There

artists and

are

who

writers

Gogh, for instance, concentrated

largelyon landscape painting,and, to a smaller extent, on portraits.
either: there is little eroticism in Horace
A poet has no difficulties,
Corot, Monet

manner

Stefan

or

It is

deals with

of

is rather

with
intentionally,
contaminated

in such

obvious

This

way.

to

situation

that

an

easy
of all
did

they

so

their work

have

occasion

on

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clear

steer

to

not

is

sex

cases

determination

great

in any

managed

novelist

the entire life story

of

avoidance

manner

writers, however,

temptation. It

is because

writer. This

of life,quite often with

in this

and

Some

matter.

with

story

all aspects

person,

van

George.
different

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is not

humor.
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with

is treated
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great

way

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our

of

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do

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in

Description of

seems

by

painting follows

natural,yet

sex.

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merely

solution

indicates

the

sexual

relations

maritime

bliss of

is in itself a feast of

offer material

the

different
with

of the
critical

brieflyor

of

avoidance

meticulous

large scope

it rather

at

and

love

Quite possibly
exclusivelyspiritual.
merely a Victorian trait;in any case, his
of genius
Copperfield,are typicalworks

however,

compromise

lengthy novels

be

to

of such

in novels

treat
entirely,

sex

or

appears

his

In

particularsubject at hand.
The
greatest part of masterpiecesin

part

is

is Dickens.

caution.

utmost

works, like David

no

They

point

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go

loving couples

in

in

typicalcase

for

further

literature

and
do

path. They

moment

sex

enters

the writer

occasionallyby

genius.

discussion

of

substantial

not

eliminate

discretion,brevity and
dilemma:

those

wit.

wherever
stops

This
it

abruptly

witty turn

the

Nature

The

180

sequence

which

on

This

fields too,
the

only
and

the

at

in that of
to

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of

thus

and, in

more

similar, although
in the

phrase of Madame

be

in other

art,

the

problem, and
of

works

true

of the Sentimental

"N'oubliez

vein, the
with
de

pas

genius.

closing episode,

is the

sensual

who

masters

Proust.

or

Magic Mountain, ending

Chauchat:

to

way,

by

solves

delicacies
literary
sentence

love

unheeded

Bruckner

as

above

including the last unfinished

on

that claims

principleof presenting
holds quite generally in art,

delightfulpieces in

most

root

even

It is the

sex.

overdo, such

to

cloying.
of the principleof

work

overdo; it
science, although it is often

instance

French

superfluousor

principleholds, by the

technique mentioned

be

of art, of

The

not

necessary,

results in the
An

only

exactly how

The

surfeit is

work

product.

not

also in

know

of

out

artistic

true

enlarge would

to

or
superfluity

leavingsex

of the Genius

Journey,
in

discourse
the

enigmatic

rendre

me

mon

crayon."
There

instances
many
this prescript;the French,
are

of

of this kind

in the French
with

The
presentation.

inherent

their

wit,

is treated

sex

manner

follow

literature which
are

by

masters

Anatole

genial of this genre.

is the dry, matter-of-fact
A
variant of the method
as
way
Sex
is certainly
a
predominant element in
practised by Shaw.
nearly all of his plays,yet it is handled so coolly,so unemotionally
France

is

the

perhaps

most

physical element, although obviously active, somehow

of genius.
have evaporated. Also a mark
to
seems
ner
presented sex in a witty or sketchy manpainterswho
Among
Henri
let us mention
Rousseau, also Matisse in his drawings

that

of

the

women.

We

to

come

now

those artists who

restraint in this respect, who

yet

who

offer
is the

domain

of the

matter.

most

course,

Painting is

direct

photography

that

catexochen

and

of

arts.

in this

meant

It has

one

of

shall

we

music.
has

in

latter,when

certain

of

reserve,

genius. The
see,

widest

all other

arts

Painting, however,
when
mind
thinking

for the eye, and

a

law

the unwritten

producing works

painting,but, as
in this regard, even
possibilities

field is, of

the

in

succeeded

violated

no
have, quiteintentionally,

is for this

distant

reason

relationshipto

representingerotic subjects,

in Works

Sex

certainly,a photograph,

fluid. Quite
work

genius,and

be

of

painting.Yet

this

of

also in

relativelysimple
existence

of

genius.If they

in

space

the exhibition

between

of
and

permits

of the sensual

the work

is

sible
pos-

abundantly

so,

power,

have

cannot

make

to

an

certainlynot

of

work

includingappeal
complexity, then
effect

adverse

the

on

heighten

even

missing,

even

probably

will

masterpiece,and

decision

survive.

not

There

is

point

no

It

matters.

art

however

great

beautiful

as

is

do

and

can

arouse

he

connoisseur

not

personal interest

may

the first.In this fashion

of the work
cannot

and

mainly for the

awakened
seascape
an

as

in
or

contemplating

same

look

time

of the excellence

go

can

in

centuries

works

an

art

tute
insti-

art

many

be

raised

sensual

old. The

many

masterpieces of Rembrandt, and is

many
such as Renoir, Degas
of the French
masters,

Very

strikingexamples of the erotic

dominates

Courbet.

to

way

nude

prevalent in

natural that

no

of those works.

an

so

is

reaction

at

satisfyingtheir various associations

still life,the portraitof a child, a

circumstance

is

stilllife

may

objection to the artistic value

element

some

This

nude.

Painting of the

or

of

purpose

together

people who

are

artistic preciati
apment
detriwithout

because

cases

gourmet

that of the fruit. This

suppressed.There

be

terests
awakening personal in-

go

apples of Cezanne, thinking at the

of

definition of the

be. Kant's

may

interest,

observer's sensual

an

thing that pleaseswithout

easilyapplicablein these

and
to

when
discussingthese
being hypocritical
that erotic subjects presented in
admitted

in

be

must

masterpiecesof

it

and

art

general impression the work

creates, in fact, might
it. If,on the other hand, the essentials are scant
or
then

exist,and

features

all other

humor,
time, originality,

and

never

masterpieces

to

domains

two

very

best, can

compared

the

that

criterion

present,

are

becomes

difficultto draw.

nonexistence

or

its

at

even

be

cannot

181

products

painting the limit

vulgarityis sometimes
is the

it

so

kinship between

the

explainswhy

nonartistic

artistic and

the limit between

Genius

of

in

of Picasso, such

Sculpture takes

an

as

art

in

his Embrace.

exceptionalpositioninasmuch

figurelends itself to that

found

are

best in the unclothed

as

the human

form;

dressed

The

182

human
of

has

statue

of the Genius

unnatural

an

perhaps the

as

Nature

aspect. Greek

produced by human

art

greatest

notwithstandingfew

figuresare

thought

Roman

by

necessary

of Cnidus,

of Rodin's

of

work, such

by the
Literature

found

the

his Eternal

as

elements

far,

so

metal

drapery,
partly covering the Aphrodite

censors,

genius. And

genius

draped.

after Praxiteles,must

copy

that work

to

sculptureis thought

be

considered

partly strong

Spring,

is

mental
detri-

sensuality

amply

balanced
counter-

in others.
of grace in some,
power
and
instances of erotic presentation,

offers many

the

judgment concerning greatness of the work is not always easy.

Perhaps the bulk of the writer's or poet's work
might help in

judging the

of the work

merits

reticence

the Felix

in

question.Thomas
of sex
descriptionswas
in

matters

exception; considered
rightly be judged

together with

the bulk
similar

masterpiece.A

siderable
con-

mentioned;

in this

Memoirs, exceedingly frank

Krull

Mann's

regard,is
it

of his work,

an

can

is Balzac's Contes

case

when
viewed
from
the angle of his total powerful
drolatiques,
Lover
discussed in Chapter 9 from
was
output. Lady Chatterley^s
another
its
assure
standpoint;the various assets of that work
tions.
descriptionof sex relaliteraryvalue in spite of the uninhibited

Poetry, often

characterized

opposite.Such

is the Dafnis

pastoralpoems

in the

with

in world

gem

is

too

transparent.

Kreutzer

work

that incited
writer's

who

is

manner.

Is there

listeners there is

belong
not

special

such

is,although only through

many

dealing

century,

prudish.

not

this discussion?

There
To

Holz, untranslatable

Arno

seventeenth

the

just the

be

can

no

veil that

such

problem.

in the realm

easy

to

thing

of opera,
decide which

which
of the

gives the impression of sensuality.

Beethoven's
as

one

music; it is then

is dramatized
sides

for

by

rustic, outspoken

of the instances

Besides,some

two

fit into

eroticism in music?
not

in

love

music

series

style of

literature

does

How
as

of

matters

refinement,

by

the

to

which

listener

Sonata

was

mentioned

Tolstoy objected: to
to

lust. Not

opinion, explainable only

ideology.

in another

it

will share

many

by

him

his

tion
connec-

was

the

music

great

strongly puritanic

Sex

Some

the

among

raised
also

scandal

the

music

listener

with
is

peculiar

character

listening

to

the

two

in

that,

analogue,

This

scale,
the

is

element

love

seducing
This

of

finding

of

it

sensual

in

needs
harmless

analogy

By

and

painting

deeply
of

absorbed

genius,

sensual

then

such

element
such

an

in

This

as

seen

observer

the

forced

that

say

again

is

Giorgione's
only

by

might

is

the
be

evil

partly.

excessively

of

be

lewd.

frigid.

all

these

vious;
ob-

sages,
pas-

of

truth

the

same

An

qualities

might
eye

find

is

seem

at

not

piece

situation

true"

Tempest,

to

particular

might

It

affair,

artistic

overwhelming

fatally

far.

glass

the

Delilah's

reveals

so

There

intervals.

Delilah.

music

magnifying

might

literature.

and

upon

otherwise.

one

employed

in

musical

properly

of

use

stage,

physiological

made

is

music

its

half-step

touched

sexual

the

by

the

in

in

The
better

ascending

sensual

not

entirely
this.

the

of

Samson

opera

problem,
the

that

his

in

song

the

or

Saint-Saens

discussion

aspect

that

descending

as

similar

particular

insinuation
is

plot,

sensuous,

watching

One

coloration

is

observed

without

to

erotic

possesses

chromatic

due

possibly

the

only

Tannhauser.

is

performance.

actually-

Perhaps

Wagner's

mentioned

concert

in

notice.

compositions

scenes

Not

dance,

will

scene

which

career.

ever,
how-

are,

opera

Salome,

Salome's

especially

these

of

realm

its

understanding

of

the

of

stages

Venusberg

instance,

element

itself,

the

183

Strauss's

is

early

musical

instance

for

the

at

in

in

Such

Genius

of

masterpieces

sensual.

strongly

Works

in

in
in

observer,
of

work
of

unaware

Maybe.

the
But

35

PICTURE

few

words

whether
what
We

of

have

we

is

of

the

genius and

that

separately.
unit, and

It

would

Since

we

from

these

us

see

question,

that

different

two

several

one

would

features
of

features

of

the

clear

picture,

man.

for

the

at

the

look

to

the

viewpoints.

the

of

features

formed

two

appeared promising,

results

that, though

derivable

altogether

not

the

man

discussed

were

the

the

yielded, indeed,

strictly corresponding,
other, contain

it

status,

two

because

from

possibly

the

the

of

pertinent facts, they

separately

viewpoints

two

genius;

the

deducible

be

that

parts,

theoretically

all

knew

we

obtaining

from

of

that

discussed

far

of

The

Let

the

answering

in

main

two

work

the

realized

then

are

purpose
matter

of

was

be

to

into

problem

that, if

have

work

order.

in

genius.

divided

not

all successful

at

be

will

recapitulation

been

GENIUS

THE

OF

the

from

one

work

the

and

man

not

do

that

correspond.
Both

this is

the

chief

our

and

actually

From

this,

in

whom

ten

our

mind,

of

existence

to

man

that

perform

his

of

which,

They

features

high degree

of

features

not

of

the

are

of

to

does
be

his

welfare;

own

187

man

such
that
to

came

ones.

are

call, that
whether

the

following:

practically
he

interest, often
certain

is

mean

that

unselfishness, resulting in the

in

others.

Ten

not

those

essential

genius

than

genius

possible

are

combined.

are

predestined duty,

primarily

personal

essential

course,

happen

quasi-external voice,

duty

single

they probably

and

fundamental

The

of

exhaustive.

are

features

of
more

are

features:

independent

genius follows:

the

all

discussed,

were

the

not;

nearly

or

features

of

of

combinations

All

Some

definition

consist

work

the

premiss.

exist.

all

features

the

and

man

the

forces

wishes

it

or

performance
to

compensation

the

ment
detrifor

his

The

188

steady, strenuous
in
that

Nature

creative

his works,

work

by
The

foresight of

dim

accompanied

of his creation.

permanence

the Genius

of

by

longing for

actual

an

mortality
im-

an

features described

of

are

an

giving a picture of genius based on his mentality.

of a more
picture is complemented by other elements

abstract nature,
This
concrete

the abilities of the

with

concerned

nature,

inventiveness, forming the basis of all creative

are:

of the craft,which

that

does

adhere

not

enabling the

impressions from

endeavor; depth of perception,

mentally, with great intensityon all

outside

the

project

human

react,

to

man

tery
mas-

drawn

with

concerned

matters

to

by invention;a universal mind

specializedfield,covering rather all

has been

design of which

the

work;
of any

enables the execution

alone

These

man.

world;

which

memory

it

makes

immediate
of his entire past experience,
use
possible for him to make
which
his past
personal or acquired by study, without
would
be lost for his creation; a high degree of perseverance,

bordering

obstinacy,to

on

in

usually great
inner

vast

features of

sometimes

which

resources

added
ability,

path,

indicative of
finallyprolificness,

and

number;

obstacles in his

all the

overcome

those

to

of

These

inexhaustible.

seem

mentality,give

his

reasonably

further supof genius.The

picture was
good idea of the essence
plemented
by other discourses on the relation of genius to society,
and personal health, all important determining factors of his
sex

activity.
I do

it is

whether
of

of Balzac

statue

advancing

the

garment,

mention

gives a direct

and

with

of the

is

little later. A

that

no

but

not

Rodin's

one:

arrestingidea of
hidden

all combine

the
to

plaster

genius: the

the

under

think

can

folds of the

face, the frightening,

give in
the

of the details,than

statue

one

lengthiest

provide.

perhaps

analysis,or, if
a

arms

brows:

if
essentials,

discussion could
This

the

genius is;

visualizable. I

searchinglypained expressionof

majestic eyes and

more

and

pictures.To

posture,

picture of

satisfactoryour

informative
sufficiently

direct

more

how

know

not

you
work

analysiscan

good illustration of the

which

wish, science, to
of

art

match.

possesses
While

supremacy

we

directness

the latter

can

will

and
be

of

art

come

over

back

conciseness

studied

only

Picture

by

former

is accessible

also the element

conveys

The

of

the exclusion

Hannibal
is

of
action

the

comparison

An

picture

to

to

appears

from
will

exclusion

might

follow

from

those

Describing the

of all in order
and

of

same

of

with

possible

argue

discussed

its

will

be

also
same

dependen
in-

an

on

tone,

however,

it may

of

viewpoint,

neither

one

be. There

would

theorem

of

the width

to

quences
conse-

The

below.

what

genius,or

is called

principle,establishing
a

that

abstract

work

could

features

survival

of the

and

be

resonance

called

found

are

evoking
universality,

that of the work;

in

is

mathematical

of the cultural
earth, irrespective
and

is generally

such

concept,

masterpiece,

number

of

tures,
fea-

independent of the others,and requiringa combination

each

essential

to

group

considerations,based

as

its

for its discussion.

work

the

followed

degree

of the

consistent, as

mediatory

more

nerstone
cor-

mentioned,

group

picture with

our

be

picture developed

available

the space

wish

and

genius to

practicalconsiderations

also

statesmanship,

and realistic
selfish purposes
shows
that the exclusion
our

that

of

our

the

in

not

truthful

incorrect,as

nor

sciences,

as
by many
geniuses.
picture of a genius,

greatness

the work

that the

correct

do

merely

us

picture.In
said

say

since the

state

us

of

is the

idealistic attitude. This

an

missing

granted. We

Let

opponents.

with

chieflyby

incorrect

for

taken

evident

is

of

result

motives

opponent

be

and

arts

realm

people in the

as
justified

motivated

being

causes.

we

rightly be

for example, by Gladstone,

business, typified,

model

our

of

men

Carnegie, considered

and

exclusion

genius, to

of famous

comprising unselfish

as

can

This
recapitulation.

brief

concept,

our

militaryoperations and

are

short time

of power.

with, worth

meet

restriction

be

time, the

striction,
picture of genius, as developed, contains an essential reof the disagreement
mentioned
severally,and, because

might

The

is effective in such

and

many

the

with

compared

to

the effect
danger of triviality
that of lightning,the more
so
as

that, without

with

189

few, and then only at the sacrifice of considerable

it

of the Genius

one

of

genius.Two

in

this search:

in

people

differences

between

all

over

their

high
the
try
coun-

resulting
high degree of universality,

product

for future

times, a requirement

based

add

on
a

concrete

of

more

the Genius

future
add

must

achievements"

past

later

will

we

times.

certain

of

characteristics

more

originalityof the work, setting it apart from

repetitiveor imitative kind; a strong dose of

in those of
masterpieces,remarkably even
prefer,naturalness,
tragicfundamental
or, if you
tone; sincerity,
sometimes
as
a
spice, yet
against artificial means,
necessary

found

humor,

as

picture we

nature:

others

these

concerning

this

of

experiences with

our

word

To

Nature

The

190

in

in

abundant

never

most

strength,impressing the
force

creative

viewer

listener

or

behind

the

of power

feature

elusive

work; the

great

with

nearly
complexity, or

work;
character, differentiating
a
great

human
super-

dimensional
multi-

the

from

work

or

light

a
qualityinvolving portrayal
kind; and finally
in later epochs.
of the times, of value for reconstructive
purposes

or

one-dimensional

work

of
a

combining these essential features

genius;
second

to

the

at

definition

create

correct.

are

pointed

out,

of the

two

is

not

is

genius

able

man

obvious

at

present,
the

between

the

two,

because

mainly
brain

its

coincide, if they

must

man

correlation

casual

incomplete knowledge of the ways

that biochemistry is still in

works.

infancy.In

knowledge will be judged as

present
years our
work
thousand
Lucretius'
that of two
years ago:

of

It

we

as
our

was

phasized
em-

thousand

two

judge

now

on

nature

today chieflyfor its poeticalvalue, was

the best possible,compatible with the scanty

then

esteemed

man,

permits

described.

definitions of the

complete

work

obtained

picture thus
genius:

man,

of the kind

work

By logic,the

the

time

same

call

now

we

and
nically
tech-

formatio
factual in-

available.

points of

Several

given
its

be

can

roots

not

by
A

further

point of

perfect.A

the

third

of

into

the

depths of

relation

sincerityof the

point in
may

work.

be

the
a

the

appeal of the
the

human

is inventiveness

pictures

two

masterpiece has

genius,although

universal

correlation

work,

between

appeal of

universal

mind

identical. The

its reach

of
originality

call and

The

discerned.

in the universal

are

correlation

casual

two

work

mind
in

correspondence

found

between

These

is
and

genius

which

the

cepts
con-

is

plained
ex-

life.
and

nearly

compulsory

the necessity
examples justify

of the Genius

Picture

of

twofold

our

191

search, yielding pictures that

at

present

be

can

brought only to partialoverlap.

mentioned

We

famous

that
is

people

achievements

such

only in historyand
like the Roland

Thinking

than

say,

what

over

works

art

magne
Charleleft

deal with

as

and

requires

more

precisely this

of

This

of science.

science

assessment

along

with

point

out

as

far

as

of

genius
such

here

the

not

difference

realms

two

in

Scientific facts do

its

possess

the

humanity

on

science

the

with

compared
The

this

ancients

of

science, of today
In

moderate

the

lighton
for
work

us

to

in
two

art

years

have

we

thus

problem, genius.Our

predict with

human

From

status

of future

what
we

element

tragedies

delivered

science

to

of

the
the

awaits

hence.
succeeded

twofold

was

do

as

fate

same

in

shedding some
makes
it possible

view

probabilitywhether

some

generally possible,since
scientific

and

science, particularlytheoretical

and

thousand

fashion

will survive.

rectly
di-

not

the need

to

the ancient

today'sscrutiny. The

achievements

great

whole.

the restricted

stems

the

of the work:

permanence

stand

can

criterions
as

art, in addition

absence

to

domains

two

main

in the same
form
appreciatedtoday essentially
through the ages, whereas
only fractions of

us

go

interest,however,
of the

utilitarian value. From

specializedknowledge.

are

not

do
characteristics,

human

main
do-

the

beings,disregardingsecondary technical

benefits of

also influences

hold

the

with

would

we

between
One

deep-rooted

not

human

interest in pure

of

is concerned.

of

is indicative

connection

is of

difference
significant

masterpiece is

medical

opinion. It

extreme

that

surprising,one
specializedknowledge
is

mentioned, also that

were

problem

our

touch

corded
re-

their lives,

from
problem, genius. Attempts of excluding specialists

of the

no

are

discussed,it will be noticed

have

we

than

art

since

True,

art.

proper

of

Song and UAiglon.

said of

was

might

picture. Their

second

military victories

the

of

group

have
of Metternich
diplomatic maneuvers
world
conditions;their achievements
present

upon

more

the

by

substantial

the

or
trace

justifiedalso
short-lived:

are

of

exclusion

our

said, such

not

times. Errors

know
are

the
very

contemporary

predictionis

not

artistic

and

taste

easilymade.

Such

master

with
is

Nature

The

192

Hoffmann

as

talks in his Old

of

equal admiration

and

Sibelius

or

will

considered

be

results,one

of the

sure

criteria

of

estimate

their

lack

noted

value.

true

day

in

accurate

apply

make

to

find

is often

and

known,

them

perhaps sinceritymay

and

the case,

draw

an

writings of Mann,

the

and

various

our

should

compositions of Sibelius. If this method

in the

give clear results,as

might

one

resort

which

men,

from

conclusions

to

in

the

most
to

man

qualityof the work.

this latter method

Even

is,however,
the

large

amount

before

time

for the

As

genuine call,the

lacked

in

of

turning

the

he

man,

sense,

did

the

criterion of

light music

not

have

lines,he devised

as

which

he

had

is

of
black

have

to

seems

genius, judging from

composed

for

quite

symphonies.

to

to

have

twelve-tone

romantic,

men

of Sibelius,he

tinuing
con-

ties
personali-

criteria of

of Shaw

is that

lacked

in his

system.

In

early work

inventiveness

Schonberg.

musical

in

for

As

musical

theory, having

composition he started
Verklarte

enough

his atonal system,

of

inventiveness

although he certainlypossessedit in

founded
be

appears

satisfythe

case

similar, problematic music

said that the

be

nature

chief

being infallible;

predictions.Thus,

making

to

appear

far from

course,

for the mercenary

against him.

mark

help

Mann

or

genius,except

the

useful

is,of

it can
previous illustrations,

of Shaw

he

be

attempting this, we

In

humor
originality,

of

instances is well

to

years

and
first,

in order

of contemporary
study of the personality

it

of

hundred

more

can

masters

by the plays of Shaw

satisfied

whereas

First,one

of present

the works

to

make

to

try

can

prediction,free of personal taste.

the

ilarly
Sim-

of the last.

Utilizing our

not

first

unknown.

as

two

great

feel

might

personally,one

now;

doubts

be

good

as

The

Naumann.

ris
equal depreciationof Longfellow,Bryant, one MorWillis. It is impossibleto foretell today whether
Shaw,

one

Mann

well

and

Music

with

Helicon

from

latter

Church

Neiv

talks in his Quacks

of literature,

connoisseur

true

the

and

Hasse

Haydn,

highly appreciatedtoday,
Poe,

of the Genius

to

create

Nacht.
new

Realizing

along

which, operating on

out

those

the basis

36
A

into

glance
We

by

extraordinary

of

today.

outlook

should
without
out

final.

be

is

Details

venturing

the

subspecies with
coexistence

the

of

form

similar

development

the

genius

fact,

in

it is

planet

our

on

be

cannot

given

possibilitystands

One

coexistence

is the

courses.
dis-

our

developed

to

species

our

of guesses.

realm

old, instead

offers

be

impossible;

means

this

that

in

breeding, resulting

subspecies,

no

of

others, and

among

by

present

into

Mendelian

planned

qualities of that

The

attempted

was

subspecies might

new

and

unlikely that the

most

that

eugenics

FUTURE

future

humanity's

envisaged
of

means

in

DISTANT

THE

of

the

human

new

forthright supplantation. Such

of

interesting conjectures

which

do

we

not

sue
pur-

further.
final

One
we

solar

system

of

duration

of

creation
will

survival?

that
will

It

might

situation

The
should

supplant
fare

would

of

status

of

little

of

under

the

artistic
least

at

from

is then

with

thought

confidence
a

survive.

and

our

There

of

as

is

long

as

which

no

scientific

the

earth,

on

catastrophe

basic

degree

that

else

that

major

also

own

our

prospective

the

nearly everything

some

reason

ments
achieve-

fascination

for

even

come.

quite radically if

change
present

our

entirely different

will

genius

differently.

science

science

to

said

forever;

heart-warming

earth, barring

the

retain

to

be

great

our

not

It is

When

masterpieces.

necessarily mean,

contrast

may

of

generations

remote

was

in

genius,

sapiens inhabits

assume

the

indefinitely.What

that

unlikely,works

to

last

not

perish.

not

homo
is

not

will

of

permanence

do

lasting, we

say,

the

about

matter

It

one.

is

those
our

In

nearly

this

present

antiquity"

significance; there

we

one.

was

194

it

By

our

thinking

are

no

science

respect

impossible

circumstances:

subspecies

new

envisage

to

be

might

present
of

development

and

exact

on

art

the
level

judgment,
sciences-

worth

speak-

The

Middle

ing of during the

four

years

altogether,a
the

In

of the

eyes

variant, our

the

And

will

there

the

among

medicine,

born

be

more

all,such

at

as

today do not rank

psychology,sociology and

retain
Our

of

works

great

scientific theories.

enjoyment from
with

aeons

incomprehensible
if for

even

that the
Sistine

that

ever

the eye,

and

While
the
of

the

and

sphere

different
with

such

the

is thinkable

be

with

in

the

Waldstein

Sonata

We

the

or

those

quite possible,

apt

are

ours

of

value

this is

All

that the

will appear

art

our

pared
com-

from

different

so

imagine.

to

easy

from

even

such

if these

development
have

foregoing,we
our

not

short

mind; it
will

artistic

derive

elapsedis

documents.

historical

mentioned

As

erroneous.

them, thus

to

perishablethan

the time

dealt

absurd

is less

think

to

frescos

in

the

are

of

value

the

might

the
truly imperishable,since they are among
produced by the human
species.We forget,however,

Chapel

greatest

of

beauty

in

dilemmas

to
us

course,

variant

new

and

shrink

might

the

for survival,as

antiquity and

of

art

have

we

problems and

our

of

Only

one.

times; some

chance

beauty
be

cannot

Of

life of the

emotional

works

Beauty

them.

the

bility,
possi-

permanence

limited

better

that

still appreciatethe

before, we

that

stand

art

It is understandable

mentioned.

the

significance
only.

historical

only

not

are

distant

those

until

survive

will

parts

that

is

geniuses and their work

greatest

very

if certain

correct;
in-

paltry,insignificant.

appear

lightof such developments, which

but rather
certainty,the outlook on

scientific

partly

appear
Even

In the

our

today, is

today.
empiricaldisciplines

less

or

branches

new

sciences

exact

it

oretical
science, the the-

present

discarded.

be

to

altogether,
they will

be invalid

not

know

we

experimental, may

there will be much

will

195

Ages; science, as

new

than

so

more

Future

these are
only three thousand
years old. And
trifle in the historyof the earth.

hundred

about

Distant

of

latter
of

paid no

interest

homo

masterpieces depends

to

change,

value

also

subspecieswas

new

attention

other

sapiens in

the

to

the

planets with
various

beings might interfere

still

the

ear

changes.

considered

in

possibleextension
beings
intelligent

respects.
more

upon

Our

mingling

radicallywith

our

The

196

traditions

and

Nature

of the Genius

accepted appreciation of masterpieces of the

our

past.

is another, rather

There

science

factor. While

curious

develops

them
into
continually,absorbing the previous states, assimilating
shrinks
their originalvolume
new
a
status, and in this manner

virtuallyto

If the

process

in the

drop

books, the
the

valuable

going

process

in

on

ensuing centuries. What

the

for, say, another

institutes will
and

the

will

masterpiecesin the future?

of

thousand

ten

have

place

no

receiving capacityof

insufficient for all the

with
all

accommodate

to

years,

overcrowded

of time, the libraries will be

work,

be

on

goes

ocean
art

will

size in

all that volume

with

happen

in

shrunk

have

such

no

length (unless part went

Aeschylus has the same
old days,none
of Mozart's
vases
scores, of Titian's can-

in the

lost) as

is

of

drama

arts.

small fraction,there

ences
audi-

concert

compositions that had

mulated
accu-

result in a
long past. This must
during the, alas, too
devaluation
of works of genius through no fault of anyone,
merely

This devaluation
acquired by accumulation.
by the crushing volume
will take place even
disregarding the possible changes in
and

ears

The

eyes.
final result of

will be

circumstances

all these

that

only

masterpieces of art from the dim past

will survive
the millenniums
as
great
go by. Works, considered
today, might be relegatedto history.
close this essay in a pessihave no intention whatsoever
We
mistic
to
the

very

chiefly for
works
part

of

two

the

out

in

Second,

relative concept.

this book

involved,

times

and

arts

their
significance;

their

to

was

be

given

in

the

lose

day

one

future

is

of

out
geniusthroughby pointing
justification

concept

further

that,

cherished

most

our

permanence

pointed out

in mind

in science, might

restricted

our

been

keep

to

even

probable survival of only the

the

have

matters

First, it is good

reasons.

long
of genius,both

of

These

the contrary.

vein, on
because

of the

greatest

very

greatest

in

the

far

future.
It is
a

lucky

distant

that

future.

plenty.Because

of

we

A
our

do
look

not

into

necessarilyhave
the

next

few

to

look

thousand

into

such

years

is

inherentlylimited capacitiesthe considera-

The

tion
and

to

of

that

span

And

actions.
discuss

the

of
it

mystery,

time

is

Distcmt

is

from

more

this

genius,

Future

than

viewpoint
humanity's

197

enough
that

greatest

to

we

guide
have

asset.

our

views

attempted

INDEX

E.,

Barlach,

(Aristophanes),

Acharnians

Acidity

in

Actors,

41

la

de

Scenes

Drawings,
B., 59,

Bartok

of

Thebes,

Against

mal,

68,

146

168,

43,

Sonata,

191

Ch.,

Th.,

Arnim,

v.,

Sarah,

Bible,

(Arnim

Horn

43

64

B.,

177

L., 58

Bonheur

(Verlaine),

Borodin,

A.,

172

(Leonardo),

63

163

Boltzmann,

Painting

of

Bernhardt,

Blacher,

Magic

Brentano),

and

Art

146

172

Youth's

The

H.,

Bizet, G.,

146

159

Berlioz, L.

The

Acharnians,
A.

137

177

Aristophanes,

195

73

H.,

Bergson,

107

45

Archimedes,

The

Berg, Alban,

73

(Nietzsche),

Aquinas,

159

33

science,

international,

Appeal,

166,

Sonata,

Waldstein
H.

159,

182

166,

Symphony

Ninth

in

152,

113,

195

182,

100

Alcoholism,

Antichrist

49

100,

96,

69,

Kreutzer

Andersen,

141

92

(Rostand),

Analogy

100,

26, 49,

L., 20, 27, 37, 38, 41, 42, 62,

Beethoven,

196

146,

genius,

UAiglon

177

147

168,

Age

167

172,

159,

Ch.,

du

Fleurs

Seven

The

167

Notebook

89

(Vergil),

Aeschylus,

58

146

Baudelaire,
Aeneid

privee, 51,

150

biochemistry,

Endre,

Ady,

vie

55

46

36

H.,

Bosch,

103

Artist

CI.,

Brentano,

55

172

(Dostoyevsky)

Karamazov

Brothers

34

172

J., 69, 77,

Brahms,

41

(Picasso),

Aubade

173

12

reproducing,
Artiste,

of,

law

Boyle-Mariotte,
creative,

142

Australopithecus,
Avariciousness,

120

Elizabeth,

Browning,

70

A.,

Bruckner,
B

Te

Bach,

Deum,

180

69,
20

20

J. S., 37, 39, 40, 42, 47, 59, 62, 122,

Goldberg

P.,

Brueghel,

147

Variations,

Well-tempered

Clavichord,

drolatiques,

Biichner,

62

Balzac, H., 26, 37, 51, 58, 176,

Comes

20,

Symphony,

Ninth

111

Georg,

39

Buddenbrooks

182

Busch,

W.,

Byron,

G.

182

199

123

159

(Th.
172

G,

57, 107

Mann),

142

Nature

The

200

of the

Genius

David

Caprichos (Goya),
Bur

Camiina

Carnegie, A.,
Mary,

Debussy, CI.,
Degas, E., 181

152

189

Cassatt,

Delius, F.,

111

Desire

Cezanne,

A., 13,

P., 38,

Chagall,ML,
Chaminade,

survival, 25

for

Devrient, L., 31

51

Dickens, Ch., 39, 103,

181

153

David

Copperfield, 140, 157,

111

(Verlaine), 55

elle

pour

Character, 67

The
Pickwick
Papers, 157,
32
Discovery, scientific,

Disinfection,

Charlemagne,
Chaucer,

G.,

Child

Divina

Commedia

Doctor

Faustus

(Op. 25),

Donne,
The

Brothers

Idiot, 157
Possessed, 166

The

Dream,

171

Dumas
17
Compulsion,quasi-external,
Ecce

Copernicus, N.,

between

G,

Creative

and

man

work

of,

153

A., 34

68
Egocentricism,

Emerson,

genius,30

of

light,171

music, 40
of

Emancipation
R.

Equivalence

of

114

women,

W.,

22, 52
and

mass

energy,

Eroticism, 169, 181

W.,

Ethics, 67

12

of, 67
relativity

Curie

Euclid, 144

couple, 51
Cyrano

(Nietzsche),

36

Critic, 147

Marie,

77

Electromagnetictheory

Cristofori, B., 40
Crookes,

Homo

Electronic

123

in

act

A.,

pere,

Einstein, A., 11, 20, 55, 58, 63, 145, 171

190

70, 181

Craft, mastery
Cranach, L.,

142

31

Edison, Th.

genius,8,

Courbet,

Karamazov,

Euclidian
112

de

Bergerac (Rostand),

157

geometry,

144

Eugenics,122,

126, 194

Euripides,41,

157, 168

Evolution, darwinian, 73, 119, 149

Dante, A., 12, 175

Darwin, Ch., 51, 73, 122,

The

Origin of
Daumier, H., 177
David, J. L.,
Charlotte

149

Faraday, M.,

Species, 149

Faust

Val

d'Ognes,

170

12, 36, 173

(Goethe),

Fermi, E.,

170

du

166

149

Corot, J. B., 179

of

157,

141,

63

Correlation

100,

The

42

124

Conciseness,

17, 102,

J., 8

Dostoyevsky, F.,

VII, Pope, 84

Complexity,

12, 175

Mann),

141

flatmajor

Chromosome,
Clement

(Dante),
(Th.

116

apparent, 116
Chopin, Fr., 35, 42, 44, 64, 100, 167, 170
G

172

12

prodigy,37,

Etude

179

191

E., 127

Chausson,

157, 172,

140,

176, 179

C,

Chansons

127

83

P.

Cerenkov,

168

Descartes, R., 150

90
Cavalieri,T.',

Cellini,B.,

140

Daydreaming, 31

158

(Orff),

ana

Copperfield (Dickens),

20, 31, 58, 166, 168

52

Fichte, J. G., 151

11

Nature

The

202

Road

Holderlin, F., 69, 107

Hyperion,
Holz, Arno,
Dafnis,
Homer,

182

172

Kollwitz, Kathe,

111

Kreutzer

(Beethoven),

Sonata

166

90

Lady

22, 179

A.

Chatterley's Lover

Larousse

v., 50

Last

D., 150

dictionary,140

155

Hybrid,

123

(Leonardo),

Supper
D.

Lawrence,

Humor,

(Lawrence),

50, 182

87

sex,

Humboldt,
Hume,

34

166

Homosexuality,
Hormone,

China,

to

107

Kodaly, Z.,

182

166

Horace,

Toadspawn

from

Kleist,H.,

107

Odyssey,

of the Genius

57

H., 50, 182

Chatterley'sLover, 50,

Lady

182

Lee, T. D., 13
Lehar, F., 173
168

Ibsen, H., 42, 147, 157, 167,

Ghosts, 42,

167

Peer

157

The

Gynt,
Idiot

(Dostoyevsky),157

da Vinci, 21, 36, 46, 47, 99

Leonardo

The

Art

Last

Supper,

Liszt,F" 63,

34
Impressionists,

Induction, electromagnetic,

Locke,

Ingres,J. A.,

Lombroso,

12

170

d'Haussonville, 170

Comtesse

17, 74,

102

in

Inventiveness

C,

103

Longfellow,H. W.,
A.,

H.

life of

Love

of,

act

172

J., 150

Lorentz,

Insanity,103
34
Inspiration,

Inventors,

57

Leverkiihn, Adrian,
Lister, J., 12

Illness,98

Invention,

of Painting, 36

192

171

genius,87

Lucretius, T., 190

30

genius,29

of the Universe,

Nature

The

Luther, Martin,

33

190

17

Jealousy,69

Mach,

Jesus, 23
Jokai, M.,

Maecenas,

The

The

141

Landowner,

New

Joyce, J.,9,

gun's Wake,
Ulysses, 153, 169

G., 69,

of

Man

Manet,

Kant, I.,26, 86,

Keats, J.,8, 57, 59, 100, 141

Kellermann, B., 142

Tunnel,

Mann,

142

Helmet

138

31

of Stephane Mallarme, 31

Thomas,

17, 39, 46, 68, 74, 102,

142, 162, 180, 182, 192

Buddenbrooks,

142

Confessions of the Adventurer

Kepler, J.,75

Krull,

Klee, P., 12, 34, 154

Miraculous

E.,

Portrait

181

Landing,

34

162,

188

the Golden

(Rembrandt),
59

165

genius,6,

with

Man

Kafka, F.,

(Th. Mann)

S., 31

Mallarme,

The

G. C, 22

Magic Mountain

Mahler,

153

151

180

141

39, 153, 169

Finne

E., 47,

Doctor

182

Faustus, 17, 102, 141

Felix

203

Index

Magic Mountain, 162, 180

Transposed Heads, 162

The

The

Aurelius,

Marcus

The

Landowner

New

I.,6, 11, 75, 145, 173, 177

Newton,

mechanics,

Newtonian

11

(Jokai), 141
145

Nietzche, F., 67, 74, 103, 107, 153, 158

Marriage
89
of artists,

Antichrist, 107

of

Ecce

85
scientists,

Homo,

153

K., 175

Ninth

Symphony

(Beethoven),

Matisse, H., 154, 180

Ninth

Symphony

(Bruckner),

Marx,

Maupassant, G.,
Maxwell,
Medici,

J. C,

176

171

Lorenzo,

24

Odyssey
Niirnberg

Meistersinger von

Die

139, 159

(Wagner),
Meitner, Lise,

112

creation, 54

Merry

Bur ana,

152
149

forced, 153
Ostwald,

Wm.,

47

F., 93, 100, 147

(Shakespeare),138

of Windsor

Wives

Parents

(Shakespeare),140
K.

Metternich,

W.,

Minotaur

omachia

Mobiles,

154

(Picasso),

genius,93
of,

Parthenon,

171

Pascal, B.,
Paul
103

Peer

13

98

HI, Pope, 84
Gynt (Ibsen), 157

Perception,depth of, 48

Modigliani,A.,

musical, 41

Performers,

153

Perseverance,

42

Moliere, J. B., 100,

157

56

Petofi,Sandor,

89

Philosophy, 151

Tartujfe, 157
CL,

of

Parity,nonconservation

191

Michelangelo,B., 11, 90, 195

Middle
age of genius,95
Military leaders, 10, 24, 195

Monet,

152

Originality,149

of Venice

Moissi, A.,

age of

Origin of Species (Darwin),

123
splitting,

Merchant

166, 176

genius,95
Ontogenesis,119
Old

Carmina

Mendel, G. J.,123
Mendelssohn,

(Homer),

Orff, C,

Memory, 52
as
handicap to
trainingof, 53
Mendelian

159
20

168, 179

of,

concept

Photography,
Phylogenesis,119

180

Mood

of

genius,62, 155
of work
of genius,156
Morgenstern, Ch., 103
Mozart,

W.

A., 23, 59, 62, 89, 93, 168,

century,

40, 159

Pickwick

181

34
181

Minotaur

74

twentieth

Aubade,

Guernica, 103
omachia,

Music

of,

Picasso, P., 9, 34, 103, 154,

Embrace,

177, 196

love

Pianoforte, 40

Papers

103

(Dickens),

157

Plagiarism,152
N

Planck, M., 38, 63, 74, 77

11, 45

Platen, A.

Nature, love

of, 72

Plato, 45,

Nernst,

28

Play of

Napoleon I,
W.,

v.,

37

53

Dreams

(Strindberg) 31
,

Nature

The

204

E.

Poe,

A.,

Quack

100,

of Helicon,

Poincare, H.,
Power,

103, 175, 192

102,
192

Rostand, E., 43, 157, 168

UAiglon, 43, 168, 191
Cyrano

151

de

Bergerac,

Rousseau, Henri,

166

Praxiteles,9,

of Cnidus,

Predictions

182

contemporaries,192

on

Prokofieff,S., 9,

158

Rousseau,

J. J., 175

Rudeness,

77

Rutherford, E.,

160

157

158, 180

Sleeping Gypsy,

182

Aphrodite

Romeo

of the Genius

12

Juliet,160

and

Prolificness,61
Proust, M., 39, 51, 58, 73, 74, 91, 100,
152, 176,
A

Sachs, Hans,

139

Saint-Saens, C,

180

la recherche

du

temps

perdu, 51,

Samson

and

Delilah, 183

Sand, George, 88, 111,

58, 91, 176

Sappho,

Pseudogenius, 127

Scenes

Q
mechanics, 58,

114

91, 111

Sauer, Emil,

Quantum

99, 183

de

42

la vie

privee (Balzac), 51,

58

Schiller,F., 63, 69, 100, 107

151

Schizophrenia,104
R

Schonberg, A.,

Rabelais, 157,
Gargantua,

Raphael,
Realism
A

Schopenhauer, A.,

169

192

63, 68, 70, 86, 151,

158

168

Ravel, ML,

Nacht,

Verklarte

169

192

Aphorismen

151

of women,

la recherche

Schubert, F., 59, 64,

112

du

Schumann

perdu

temps

(Proust), 51, 58, 91,

Refinement,

Lebensweisheit,

zur

158

100

R., 35, 89, 108

Kreisleriana,108

176

Schweitzer, Albert, 42, 46, 151, 175

169

Scientists, 11

Religiousart,
Rembrandt

163

Selection

Rijn, 38,

van

59, 62,

89,
126
artificial,

138, 181
Man

the Golden

with

Helmet,

natural, 120
138

Semmelweis,
Renoir, A.,

I.

P.,

12

181

164
Sentimentality,

Reynolds, J., 138

Riemann,

145

Rilke, R. M., 89,

Rimbaud,

A., 91,

des

Ring

(Aeschylus), 146
Sevigne,Marquise de,

170
94

Sex, 85,

Nibelungen

(Wagner),

152

58,

111

178

Shakespeare,W.,

9, 35, 74, 89, 90, 138,

140, 152, 157

Rodin, A., 113, 163, 166, 182,

Balzac,

188

188

Bronze

The

Burghers of Calais,166

Eternal

Age,

Spring,

Roentgen,

W.

Song,

Hamlet,

138

Merchant

The

Roland

Against Thebes

Seven

The

B., 98,

K.,
191

182
12

163

of Venice, 138

The

Merry Wives
of Windsor,
Winter's
Tale, 152, 157

Sharaku,

140

140

Shaw, G. B., 44, 46, 68, 71, 77, 177, 180,

192

205

Index

Days,

King Charles's Golden

In Good

Shelley,P. B., 57
Shostakovich, D.,

160

Siegfried (Wagner),

Terborch, G.,

158

Venus

Sophocles,41, 75, 157,

La

Statesmen, 10, 24, 189

Stein, Gertrude, 153

Tristram

180

Shandy,

182

visite,158

Tristan

160

und

Isolde

Tuberculosis,
Twelve-tone

40

Strauss, J.,45, 123, 173

Bat,

34

157, 167, 182

Sonata, 167,

Transmutation, atomic,

180

153

Stockhausen, K.,

Player,

Toxin, bacterial,102
Tragic elements, 156

Journey,

Sternheim, C,

the Lute

War
Peace, 157
Toulouse-Lautrec, H., 50, 100, 158, 177

151

Sentimental

genius,174

and

Southampton,Earl of, 90

Sterne, L., 160,

50

of

196

and

Kreutzer

Sorensen, S. P., 150

Spencer, H.,

D.,

work

Tolstoy, L. N.,

168

39

70
H.

Titian, 34,

Socrates, 74, 90, 177

music,

Pealer, 158

and

Times

161
Sincerity,
75
Society,

12

(Wagner),

42

100

Schonberg's,192

system

173

Strauss,R., 69, 96, 159, 165,

Rosenkavalier,

Salome,

Temperament,

Thoreau,

37

20

equal,in

Tesla, N.,

Sibelius,J., 192

38

(Bruckner),

Apple

Shyness,77

Der

Deum

Te

177

The

Technique,

Ulysses (Joyce), 153

Unfriendliness, 77

183

159

183

Stravinsky,I., 160, 177

Concerto,

Oaks

Dumbarton

Strindberg,A., 31,

160

Unselfishness,21
Utrillo,M., 154

143

Death

Dance, 167
Play of Dreams,

Universality
of genius,44
of masterpiece,137

31

Style,152
mind,

Subconscious

Suicide,

Vanity,27,

106

Sullivan, A.
The

Values, philosophyof,

32

S.,

Mikado,

Suppe, F.,
Survival

69

173

Vavilov, S. I.,13,

173

Vavilov-Cerenkov

51

radiation,13,

of

genius,26,

Swift, J.,100,,175
Gulliver's
Travels,

143

Venus

the

and

Lute

175

Vergil, 147
Aeneid,

147

Verlaine, P., 55, 91,

Les

E.,

13

Tartuffe (Moliere),

Tchaikovsky, P. I.,47
Tchekov,

Teaching,

A.,
82

163

Player (Titian),

34

Syphilis,100

Tamm,

51

Velasquez,D. R., 63

138

of work

I.

151

157

Amies,

91

Bonheur,

55

Chansons

pour

Lorsque
Vermeer,

tu

elle,55

cherches

J., 38

Villon, F., 71

169

tes

puces,

169

Nature

The

206

T.,

Vischer,

F.

Vivaldi,

A.,

147

F.

M.,

Voltaire,

of

the

Genius

Whitman,

58

W.,

Miracles,
175

83,

27,

59,

167

167

Of

Persons

Wilde,

O.,

Arrived,

167

168

w
Winkler,
R.,

Wagner,
113,

37,
152,

139,

68,
171,

159,

L.,

107,

89,

70,

'singer

genius,

111

Niirnberg,

von

of

Work

C.

Wu,

and

58,

genius,
S.,

6,

13

152

37

Tannhauser,
Tristan

Nibelungen,

des

Ring

Siegfried,

War

(Shakespeare),

183

159

139,
Der

101

Tale

Winter's

Woman

Meister

Die

58,

42,

X
183

Isolde,

und

X-rays,

(Tolstoy),

Peace

12,

150

42

157

Weininger,
Well-tempered
Werckmeister,

Otto,

11,
Clavichord

A.,

39

106

(Bach),

39

Yang,
Youth

C.
of

N.,

13

genius,

92

137

152,

157