--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Genius is nothing more than common…" description: "\"Genius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a greater intensity. There are no astonishing ways of doing astonishing things. All astonishing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/benjamin-haydon-17054_astonishing_genius-is-nothing-more-than-common-facul_3196522.jpg" --- # Genius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a… ![“Genius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a greater intensity. There are no astonishing ways of doing astonishing things. All astonishing things are done by ordinary materials.” quote by Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/benjamin-haydon-17054_astonishing_genius-is-nothing-more-than-common-facul_3196522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/benjamin-haydon-17054_astonishing_genius-is-nothing-more-than-common-facul_3196522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/benjamin-haydon-17054_astonishing_genius-is-nothing-more-than-common-facul_3196522.jpg) > “Genius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a greater intensity. There are no astonishing ways of doing astonishing things. All astonishing things are done by ordinary materials.” [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ordinary abilities become extraordinary when intensified; great achievements stem from simple, refined effort. **In simple terms:** Common skills become great when intensified. Key Takeaway Refine everyday talents. Themes creativity skill excellence Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic practice - scientific research - personal development - leadership Key Concepts Intensification ordinary extraordinary Questions to Reflect On - How can you intensify a routine skill? - What ordinary resources can you refine? A Different Perspective Talent alone is insufficient without focused refinement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing/) [Astonishing Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing-things-2346742/) [Astonishing Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing-ways-527707/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Doing Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-astonishing-5917804/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-common-2758204/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Refined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refined/) [Things Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-astonishing-3748794/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It is wonderful how quickly you get used to things, even the most astonishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-nesbit/it-is-wonderful-how-quickly-you-get-used-to-things-even-the-most/) [E. Nesbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-nesbit/) > [The mind is a strange machine which can combine the materials offered to it in the most astonishing ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-mind-is-a-strange-machine-which-can-combine-the-materials-offered/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [A man will do astonishing things for a woman he is ardent about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-bradley/a-man-will-do-astonishing-things-for-a-woman-he-is-ardent-about/) [Celeste Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-bradley/) > [I'd seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-d-seen-my-father-he-was-a-poor-man-and-i-watched-him-do-astonishing/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I've concluded that genius is as common as dirt. We suppress genius because we haven't yet figured out how to manage a population of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/i-ve-concluded-that-genius-is-as-common-as-dirt-we-suppress-genius/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [If genius has any common denominator, I would propose breadth of interest and the ability to construct fruitful analogies between fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/if-genius-has-any-common-denominator-i-would-propose-breadth-of/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Ive concluded that genius is as common as dirt. We suppress our genius only because we havent yet figured out how to manage a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/ive-concluded-that-genius-is-as-common-as-dirt-we-suppress-our-genius/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [The only difference between a genius and one of common capacity is that the former anticipates and explores what the latter accidentally hits upon;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-difference-between-a-genius-and-one-of-common-capacity-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A contemporary artist can use the findings of all epochs and all styles, from the most primitive literary expressions up to the most refined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-goytisolo/a-contemporary-artist-can-use-the-findings-of-all-epochs-and-all/) [Juan Goytisolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-goytisolo/) > [What is commonly honored with the name of Friendship is no very profound or powerful instinct. Men do not, after all, love their Friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-commonly-honored-with-the-name-of-friendship-is-no-very/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [May be refined, and join the angelic train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillis-wheatley/may-be-refined-and-join-the-angelic-train/) [Phillis Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillis-wheatley/) > [No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent-how-highly-educated-how/) [Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/) > [Refined religion is aimed at realizing ethical values, including the fostering of human lives and human communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/refined-religion-is-aimed-at-realizing-ethical-values-including-the/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Western doctors are like poor plumbers. They treat a splashing tub by cleaning up the water. These plumbers are extremely apt at drying up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-parsons-burkitt/western-doctors-are-like-poor-plumbers-they-treat-a-splashing-tub-by/) [Denis Parsons Burkitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-parsons-burkitt/) > [Government is the agent of those who are too refined to do their own mugging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/government-is-the-agent-of-those-who-are-too-refined-to-do-their-own/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) ## More by Benjamin Haydon > [There surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/there-surely-is-in-human-nature-an-inherent-propensity-to-extract-all/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [It is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-highly-convenient-to-believe-in-the-infinite-mercy-of-god-when/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [It is better to make friends than adversaries of a conquered race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-better-to-make-friends-than-adversaries-of-a-conquered-race/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [One of the surest evidences of an elevated taste is the power of enjoying works of impassioned terrorism, in poetry, and painting. The man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/one-of-the-surest-evidences-of-an-elevated-taste-is-the-power-of/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Genius in poverty is never feared, because nature, though liberal in her gifts in one instance, is forgetful in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/genius-in-poverty-is-never-feared-because-nature-though-liberal-in/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [No man, perhaps, is so wicked as to commit evil for its own sake. Evil is generally committed under the hope of some advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/no-man-perhaps-is-so-wicked-as-to-commit-evil-for-its-own-sake-evil/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Men of genius are often considered superstitious, but the fact is, the fineness of their nerve renders them more alive to the supernatural than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/men-of-genius-are-often-considered-superstitious-but-the-fact-is-the/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Men who have reached and passed 45, have a look as if waiting for the secret of the other world, and as if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/men-who-have-reached-and-passed-45-have-a-look-as-if-waiting-for-the/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [If men would only take the chances of doing right because it is right, instead of the immediate certainty of the advantage of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/if-men-would-only-take-the-chances-of-doing-right-because-it-is-right/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [The greatest geniuses have always attributed everything to God, as if conscious of being possessed of a spark of His divinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/the-greatest-geniuses-have-always-attributed-everything-to-god-as-if/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Beware of the beginnings of vice. Do not delude yourself with the belief that it can be argued against in the presence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/beware-of-the-beginnings-of-vice-do-not-delude-yourself-with-the/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [This is an age of intellectual sauces, of essence, of distillation. We have conclusions without deductions, abridgments of history and abridgments of science without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/this-is-an-age-of-intellectual-sauces-of-essence-of-distillation-we/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [We are a compound of both here and hereafter; we shall be made responsible for the actions of both while here. Anything beyond this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/we-are-a-compound-of-both-here-and-hereafter-we-shall-be-made/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [There must be more malice than love in the hearts of all wits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/there-must-be-more-malice-than-love-in-the-hearts-of-all-wits/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) [Explore all 38 Benjamin Haydon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) ## More Astonishing quotes > [It's astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way. That's why a reporter's job, as you know, is such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/it-s-astonishing-what-you-learn-and-feel-and-see-along-the-way-that-s/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, The Headmaster's Wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime Saigon in the story of Percival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-y-k-lee-2/a-first-novel-of-astonishing-force-craft-and-beauty-the-headmaster-s/) [Janice Y. K. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-y-k-lee-2/) > [“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-astonishing-is-that-we-who-had-no-idea-how-anything-was-going/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. 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'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It's Twitter's combination of simplicity and complexity that is astonishing in the same way that minimalist sculpture was inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/it-s-twitter-s-combination-of-simplicity-and-complexity-that-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/all-that-we-don-t-know-is-astonishing-even-more-astonishing-is-what/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy which we call mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/still-more-astonishing-is-that-world-of-rigorous-fantasy-which-we/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [“No one ever said aloud any of the kinds of things he was so constantly thinking, because no one in the parish, not Alice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/no-one-ever-said-aloud-any-of-the-kinds-of-things-he-was-so/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [If you worry less about what people think of you, you can pick up an astonishing amount of information about them. 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