Men of genius are far more abundant than is supposed. In fact, to appreciate thoroughly the work of what we call genius, is to possess all the genius by which the work was produced.
Interpretation
Genius is more common than we realize, and true appreciation of genius requires understanding the effort and creativity behind it.
Edgar Allan Poe suggests that there are more individuals with genius-like qualities than society often recognizes. To truly appreciate a genius's work, one must grasp the creativity, skill, and effort that led to its creation, fostering a deeper connection and recognition of talent.
In practice
In a discussion about artistic talent at a gallery, one might quote Poe to emphasize the hard work behind the masterpieces.
But evil things, in robes of sorrow, Assailed the monarch's high estate; (Ah, let us mourn, for never morrow Shall dawn upon him desolate!) And round about his home the glory That blushed and bloomed, Is but a dim-remembered story Of the old time entombed.
Most writers - poets in especial - prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy - an ecstatic intuition - and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes.
...the agony of my soul found vent in one loud, long and final scream of despair.
Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best have gone to their eternal rest.
I could have clasped the red walls to my bosom as a garment of eternal peace. "Death," I said, "any death but that of the pit!" Fool! might I have not known that into the pit it was the object of the burning iron to urge me?
In our endeavors to recall to memory something long forgotten, we often find ourselves upon the very verge of remembrance, without being able, in the end, to remember.
You can't help but... with 20/20 hindsight, go back and say, 'Look, had we done something different, we probably wouldn't be facing what we are facing today.'
You can be helping many people, but if you are not helping yourself, you have missed the one person you were born to heal.
Older people sit down and ask, 'What is it?' but the boy asks, 'What can I do with it?'.
Make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge. Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge.
After meditating for some years, I began to see the patterns of my own behavior. As you quiet your mind, you begin to see the nature of your own resistance more clearly, struggles, inner dialogues, the way in which you procrastinate and develop passive resistance against life. As you cultivate the witness, things change. You don't have to change them. Things just change.
You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.
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