Coolidge on Genius

 

(This is part 2 of Calvin Coolidge’s larger quote on Persistence.)

This week the musing is about genius. Genius is defined as: 1. extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity. 2.: a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority. specifically: a person with a very high IQ  Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › genius

It has often been said, “Smart people learn from their mistakes; geniuses learn from other people’s mistakes.” By either definition, there are not many geniuses around.

 Coolidge said “unrewarded genius is almost a proverb”. Throughout history, there have been many examples of very smart people (often called wise men) who have spoken up and still been ignored. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction”. A wise man’s ideas are only useful if they are accepted and put to good use. Some geniuses were shunned because of new and strange ideas. Some were ridiculed because they went against the social norm and even posed a threat to the perceived welfare of the economy. Albert Einstein (the one sticking out his tonge) was once asked what it was like to be the smartest man in the world. His reply was that if you really wanted to know you should go ask Nicola Tesla.

I would consider both geniuses. So why did Tesla die a poor man living in a run-down hotel? Many did not understand his genus. Others seemed to be threatened by it. Now there is no end of conspiracy theories around Tesla, but it was clear that his idea of free electricity for all did not sit well with the established tycoons. He ended up poor partly because he did not want to control the power grid but had a vision of sharing it with all. Others decided to either ignore his wisdom, or misuse it.

Sometimes genius is wasted on terrible people. Without throwing and pasts geniuses under the bus, I can say that many geniuses from the past were less than nice with anyone who disagreed with them. Edison, Newton, and Churchill often come to mind.

So how can we not waste genius? First we need to determine if it is God’s wisdom or man’s wisdom. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 (NIV)

Once we find it, we need to listen and apply it. Enter, persistence and determination from the quote. Genius that is hidden or not heeded is unrewarded and useless.

  “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”  - Calvin Coolidge