The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (213 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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GENIUS is an infinite capacity for taking pains
Cf.
1858
CARLYLE
Frederick the Great
I. IV. iii. ‘Genius’.. means transcendent capacity of taking trouble, first of all.
1870
Work amongst Working Men
iv.
Gift, like genius, I often think, only means an infinite capacity for taking pains.
1959
Eating People is Wrong
iv.
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains. But we should still foster it, however much of an embarrassment it may be to us.
1974
Porterhouse Blue
xiv.
The modern fashion [of research] comes, I suppose, from a literal acceptance of the ridiculous dictum that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.
diligence

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