Genius is only an attitude away

“The greatest geniuses have the shortest biographies,” articulated Ralph Waldo Emerson, saying that we rarely know or appreciate them until long after their time, because we don’t appreciate who and what they are... and maybe... what it takes to become one.

A genius is defined, dictionary like, as “an exceptional talent or skill, something above and beyond the norm.” It is derived from the Latin meaning of a “guardian deity or spirit,” and refers to outstanding “innate abilities.”

Physiologically, a genius has significantly greater amounts of white matter, which gets its colour from a substance called myelin, and occupies the subcortical regions of their brains. It contains bundles of nerve cells, otherwise known as axons, and fibers known as neurons, which is increase the connectivity, or flow of information between the different parts of the brain, through small gaps in the myelination, enabling faster and much more complex thought processes.

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “No true genius has ever existed without some touch of madness,” while Mark Twain almost tragically noted that, “Thousands of geniuses die undiscovered... either by themselves... or others,” adding later that he believed all children were born geniuses, but were restrained by parents, society, or fate. Well, maybe secretly they do want to be a little like Sheldon Cooper, the genius in ‘The Big Bang Theory?’ I feel that he, or rather his character, epitomises what many of the younger generation believe a genius to be... articulate, witty, and sarcastic, while at the same time displaying a complete absence of consideration, tolerance, humility, or empathy. The problem is that this is a television show, not real, not even ‘reality,’ and in real life, such intolerance and thoughtlessness would not be tolerated.

Many of us see those who are remarkably gifted... in the way that we want to know everything that they do, but without all of the extravagances, the tinge of madness, the uncertainty, the neuroticism, the unease, the capriciousness, and turbulence that appears to be their hallmark. The reality is that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ description of a genius, but... one myth, that of their being born and not made, is being destroyed brick by brick today. It was famously signposted by first, Thomas Edison, “Genius is 1 per cent inspiration, and 99 per cent perspiration,” and later by Henry Ford, saying, “Genius is seldom recognised for what it is: a great capacity for hard work.”

Professor Michael Howe, of Exeter University writes that few are child prodigies, with inherent intellectual gifts, and none are a “race apart.” He said that, “Genuine creative achievements depend more on perseverance than on prodigious childhood skills. We cannot all be geniuses but we can learn from them.” Howe believes it is their focus, and firm sense of direction that eventually make them special. In this way we can understand how the Bronte sister’s achieved literary immortality through study, like George Eliot, none of them being any more than passable in their youth.

Musical ‘geniuses’ like Beethoven, Mozart and Bach never wrote their symphonies wile in diapers, but as a consequence of studies in the academies of their day. Beethoven’s talents were recognised at 13, but it took another 8 years of academic slavery during which it was said, “The regime was harsh, intensive, as he was often dragged from bed to the keyboard, and he was often reduced to tears.” Mozart, a workaholic, wrote 600 compositions in his short life, and Bach, it took him two weeks walking to get to school each year, and then two more weeks to get back home, for three years! None of them found their genius easily.

Today, the accolade is offered far too loosely and easily. The message however that should be delivered is that regardless of one’s beginnings, disadvantages, and diminished prospects, real and genuine commitment, focus, and sheer bloody-mindedness, and hard work will achieve in the face of adversity. Genius may well be the pot of gold, at the end of one’s academic rainbow.