QuoteProject
What makes a genius? The ability to see. To see what? The butterfly in a caterpillar, the eagle in an egg, the saint in a selfish person, life in death, unity in separation, God in the human and human in God and suffering as the form in which the incomprehensibility of God himself appears.
Brennan Manning
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Genius is the capacity to perceive deeper truths and connections in the world around us.

This quote by Brennan Manning emphasizes that true genius lies in the ability to see potential and beauty in seemingly ordinary or flawed beings and situations. It suggests that genius is not just about intelligence but rather an insightful perception that recognizes deeper truths, such as the profound connections between life and death, and the divine presence in human experiences.

Themes

GeniusPerceptionPotentialUnityInsight

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about recognizing potential in others.

More from Brennan Manning

Trust is that rare and priceless treasure that wins us the affection of our heavenly Father.
Brennan ManningRead
The sinners to whom Jesus directed His messianic ministry were not those who skipped morning devotions or Sunday church. His ministry was to those whom society considered real sinners. They had done nothing to merit salvation. Yet they opened themselves to the gift that was offered them. On the other hand, the self-righteous placed their trust in the works of the Law and closed their hearts to the message of grace.
Brennan ManningRead
There is the "you" that people see and then there is the "rest of you". Take some time and craft a picture of the "rest of you." This could be a drawing, in words, even a song. Just remember that the chances are good it will be full of paradox and contradictions.
Brennan ManningRead
Do you honestly believe God likes you, not just loves you because theologically God has to love you?
Brennan ManningRead
Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever.
Brennan ManningRead
For Ragamuffins, God's name is Mercy. We see our darkness as a prized possession because it drives us into the heart of God. Without mercy our darkness would plunge us into despair - for some, self-destruction. Time alone with God reveals the unfathomable depths of the poverty of the spirit. We are so poor that even our poverty is not our own: It belongs to the mysterium tremendum of a loving God.
Brennan ManningRead

Similar quotes

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
ConfuciusRead
‎Once we recognize what it is we are feeling, once we recognize we can feel deeply, love deeply, can feel joy, then we will demand that all parts of our lives produce that kind of joy.
Audre LordeRead
Thou wilt find rest from vain fancies if thou doest every act in life as though it were thy last.
AristotleRead
Patience serves us against insults precisely as clothes do against the cold. For if you multiply your garments as the cold increases, that cold cannot hurt you; in the same way increase your patience under great offenses, and they cannot hurt your feelings.
Leonardo Da VinciRead
To see the best before I have properly begun would be somewhat premature.
Kazuo IshiguroRead
Those who understand only what can be explained understand very little.
Marie Von Ebner-EschenbachRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.