--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The belly is the giver of genius." description: "\"The belly is the giver of genius.\" — Aulus Persius Flaccus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg" --- # The belly is the giver of genius. ![“The belly is the giver of genius.” quote by Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg) > “The belly is the giver of genius.” [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The belly, symbolizing appetite, fuels creative thought, implying that physical needs can inspire intellectual work. **In simple terms:** Physical needs can spark genius. Key Takeaway Nurture body to nurture mind. Themes philosophy creativity biology Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - artistic work - writing - scientific discovery - culinary arts Key Concepts bodily needs creative inspiration human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does physical health affect your creativity? - Can hunger motivate artistic output? A Different Perspective Excessive indulgence may hinder rather than help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [Friend of fatherless! Fountain of happiness! Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh, how my soul is on Fire when I gaze at thy Calm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/friend-of-fatherless-fountain-of-happiness-lord-of-the-swill-bucket/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The belly (i.e. necessity) is the teacher of art and the liberal bestower of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-i-e-necessity-is-the-teacher-of-art-and-the-liberal/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [What is a genius? A person who demands little to nothing from others, but is often found extremely difficult to have around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/what-is-a-genius-a-person-who-demands-little-to-nothing-from-others/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“illuminates the path to greatness via a unique, accessible, and practical decoding of genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/illuminates-the-path-to-greatness-via-a-unique-accessible-and/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Often times, it's the mistakes that make it genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/often-times-it-s-the-mistakes-that-make-it-genius/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“genius is a path that we can all take and derive much benefit, happiness, fulfillment, and success from...not a genetic windfall or divine gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/genius-is-a-path-that-we-can-all-take-and-derive-much-benefit/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) ## More by Aulus Persius Flaccus > [To-morrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/to-morrow-is-the-day-when-idlers-work-and-fools-reform-and-mortal-men/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [The belly (i.e. necessity) is the teacher of art and the liberal bestower of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-i-e-necessity-is-the-teacher-of-art-and-the-liberal/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [The man who wishes to bend me with his tale of woe must shed true tears - not tears that have been got ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-man-who-wishes-to-bend-me-with-his-tale-of-woe-must-shed-true/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [ O natal star, thou producest twins of widely different character. \[Lat., Geminos, horoscope, varo Producis genio.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/o-natal-star-thou-producest-twins-of-widely-different-character-lat/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Thou art moist and soft clay; thou must instantly be shaped by the glowing wheel. \[Lat., Udum et molle lutum es: nunc, nunc properandus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/thou-art-moist-and-soft-clay-thou-must-instantly-be-shaped-by-the/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [ Let them (the wicked) see the beauty of virtue, and pine at having forsaken her. \[Lat., Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/let-them-the-wicked-see-the-beauty-of-virtue-and-pine-at-having/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [The stomach is the teacher of the arts and the dispenser of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-stomach-is-the-teacher-of-the-arts-and-the-dispenser-of-invention/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [You pray for good health and a body that will be strong in old age. Good-but your rich foods block the gods' answer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/you-pray-for-good-health-and-a-body-that-will-be-strong-in-old-age-2/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [ Retire within thyself, and thou will discover how small a stock is there. \[Lat., Tecum habita, et noris quam sit tibi curta supellex.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/retire-within-thyself-and-thou-will-discover-how-small-a-stock-is/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Bad advice is often most fatal to the adviser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/bad-advice-is-often-most-fatal-to-the-adviser/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Live according to your income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/live-according-to-your-income/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Confined to common life thy numbers flow, And neither soar too high nor sink too low; There strength and ease in graceful union meet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/confined-to-common-life-thy-numbers-flow-and-neither-soar-too-high/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Indulge, and to thy genius freely give, For not to live at ease is not to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/indulge-and-to-thy-genius-freely-give-for-not-to-live-at-ease-is-not/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Quantum est in rebus inane! How much folly there is in human affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/quantum-est-in-rebus-inane-how-much-folly-there-is-in-human-affairs/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Is then thy knowledge of no value, unless another know that thou possessest that knowledge?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/is-then-thy-knowledge-of-no-value-unless-another-know-that-thou/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) [Explore all 32 Aulus Persius Flaccus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) ## More Belly quotes > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [I was the first to win a major with a belly putter, and I've spent hours practicing that way, so I hope they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/i-was-the-first-to-win-a-major-with-a-belly-putter-and-i-ve-spent/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-devilish-iron-horse-whose-ear-rending-neigh-is-heard-throughout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Somewhere squidgy. Your belly, maybe?” “I can’t believe you called my belly ‘squidgy.’ It’s not squidgy, it’s pillowy. And sexy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-peeler/somewhere-squidgy-your-belly-maybe-i-can-t-believe-you-called-my/) [Nicole Peeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-peeler/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [We sat there, not talking, for a few minutes. He ate the Moon Pie; only skinny people can scarf down junk food like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/we-sat-there-not-talking-for-a-few-minutes-he-ate-the-moon-pie-only/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-get-so-nervous-i-get-belly-pains-before-i-go-on-stage/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-can-reason-down-or-deny-everything-except-this-perpetual-belly-feed/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've learned ballet for seven years and Kathak and belly dancing for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-ve-learned-ballet-for-seven-years-and-kathak-and-belly-dancing-for/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [It's very important to not repeat yourself. After 'Delhi Belly,' I was offered 40 'Delhi Belly's and you can't do that! So 'Revolver Rani'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-s-very-important-to-not-repeat-yourself-after-delhi-belly-i-was/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [I asked these Indians: "Do men ever make Chicha?" My question was met with gales of laughter. The women howled. Bent over in hilarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-d-eames/i-asked-these-indians-do-men-ever-make-chicha-my-question-was-met/) [Alan D. Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-d-eames/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [After three years down here, I've not learned too much. But one thing I do know is that our bellies aren't big enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-three-years-down-here-i-ve-not-learned-too-much-but-one-thing-i/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [The City of New York is like an enormous citadel, a modern Carcassonne. Walking between the magnificent skyscrapers one feels the presence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-city-of-new-york-is-like-an-enormous-citadel-a-modern-carcassonne/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) Browse all 662 Belly quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The belly is the giver of genius.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aulus Persius Flaccus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/aulus-persius-flaccus-19303_belly_the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius-401820_401820.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The belly is the giver of genius.” — Aulus Persius Flaccus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aulus Persius Flaccus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The belly is the giver of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/the-belly-is-the-giver-of-genius/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```