--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man of genius whether as artist or…" description: "\"The man of genius whether as artist or thinker requires a mass of accidental variations to select from and a rigidly selective process of attention.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/boris-sidis-27589_art_the-man-of-genius-whether-as-artist-or-t_1274007.jpg" --- # The man of genius whether as artist or thinker requires a… ![“The man of genius whether as artist or thinker requires a mass of accidental variations to select from and a rigidly selective process of attention.” quote by Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/boris-sidis-27589_art_the-man-of-genius-whether-as-artist-or-t_1274007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/boris-sidis-27589_art_the-man-of-genius-whether-as-artist-or-t_1274007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/boris-sidis-27589_art_the-man-of-genius-whether-as-artist-or-t_1274007.jpg) > “The man of genius whether as artist or thinker requires a mass of accidental variations to select from and a rigidly selective process of attention.” [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genius depends on many random ideas and a disciplined focus to choose the valuable ones. **In simple terms:** Random ideas plus focus create genius. Key Takeaway Cultivate variety and selective attention. Themes creativity genius focus selection discipline Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research - artistic creation - problem solving - brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive science innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance exploration and focus? - What methods help you select the best ideas? A Different Perspective Too much variation can cause distraction without proper filtering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) ## Related quotes > [From Gadamer I learned that to understand a given thinker requires one to presuppose that he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-georg-gadamer/from-gadamer-i-learned-that-to-understand-a-given-thinker-requires/) [Hans-Georg Gadamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-georg-gadamer/) > [In the interest of the ethical and moral health of the country, the writer, the poet, the artist, the thinker, must hold a mirror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-major/in-the-interest-of-the-ethical-and-moral-health-of-the-country-the/) [Clarence Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-major/) > [If evil means to be self-motivated, to be the center of one’s own universe, to live on one’s own terms, then every artist, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/if-evil-means-to-be-self-motivated-to-be-the-center-of-one-s-own/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [The great artist and thinker are the simplifiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/the-great-artist-and-thinker-are-the-simplifiers/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“artist, thinker, blurter of brilliance Many”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/artist-thinker-blurter-of-brilliance-many/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [A writer writes with his genius; an artist paints with hers; everyone who creates operates from this sacramental center.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/a-writer-writes-with-his-genius-an-artist-paints-with-hers-everyone/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [You have to be a little bit cautious when the market gets quite strong because there's a tendency to anoint a genius artist every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gagosian/you-have-to-be-a-little-bit-cautious-when-the-market-gets-quite/) [Larry Gagosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gagosian/) > [Clearly the hardest thing for the working artist is to create his own conception and follow it, unafraid of the strictures it imposes, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/clearly-the-hardest-thing-for-the-working-artist-is-to-create-his-own/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I wish I was this dark genius artist - like Richard Pryor or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/i-wish-i-was-this-dark-genius-artist-like-richard-pryor-or-something/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [“The humorous self-sufficiency of genius is the unity of a modest resignation in the world and a proud elevation above the world: of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/the-humorous-self-sufficiency-of-genius-is-the-unity-of-a-modest/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [Kendrick is a true genius artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/kendrick-is-a-true-genius-artist/) [Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/) > [Skrillex. The man is a genius and paved a new way for music and it's very inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-grimmie/skrillex-the-man-is-a-genius-and-paved-a-new-way-for-music-and-it-s/) [Christina Grimmie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-grimmie/) > [“The man of genius may dwell unknown, but one always may recognize the path he has followed into the forest. It was a giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/the-man-of-genius-may-dwell-unknown-but-one-always-may-recognize-the/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [“A wonderful privilege it was to be thus admitted into the soul of a man of genius, to be allowed to share the ecstasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/a-wonderful-privilege-it-was-to-be-thus-admitted-into-the-soul-of-a/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“Napoleon, the man of genius, did this! But to say that he destroyed his army because he wished to, or because he was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/napoleon-the-man-of-genius-did-this-but-to-say-that-he-destroyed-his/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Boris Sidis > [Social laughter is momentary, soon burns itself out and passes away like the fire and smokes of straw, but genius shakes the very skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/social-laughter-is-momentary-soon-burns-itself-out-and-passes-away/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The main source of psychopathic diseases is the fundamental instinct of fear with its manifestations, the feeling of anxiety, anguish, and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-main-source-of-psychopathic-diseases-is-the-fundamental-instinct/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Not purpose but chance is at the heart of mental life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/not-purpose-but-chance-is-at-the-heart-of-mental-life/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Psychology is the science of psychic states both as to content and form, regarded from an objective standpoint, and brought in relation to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/psychology-is-the-science-of-psychic-states-both-as-to-content-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Mental synthesis of psychic content in the unity of a moment-consciousness is a fundamental principle of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/mental-synthesis-of-psychic-content-in-the-unity-of-a-moment/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The psycho-physiological hypothesis is both inductively and deductively the sine qua non of the science of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-psycho-physiological-hypothesis-is-both-inductively-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Science is the description of phenomena and the formulation of their relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/science-is-the-description-of-phenomena-and-the-formulation-of-their/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The course of evolution is to a greater integration of similarly functioning ganglia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-course-of-evolution-is-to-a-greater-integration-of-similarly/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The general tendency of evolution is from structure to function, from bondage to freedom of the individual elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-general-tendency-of-evolution-is-from-structure-to-function-from/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The principle of recognition of evil under all its guises is at the basis of the true education of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-principle-of-recognition-of-evil-under-all-its-guises-is-at-the/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Suggestibility varies as the amount of disaggregation, and inversely as the unification of consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/suggestibility-varies-as-the-amount-of-disaggregation-and-inversely/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/self-preservation-is-the-central-aim-of-all-life-activities/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The tendency of life is not the preservation of the species, but solely the preservation of each individual organism, as long as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-tendency-of-life-is-not-the-preservation-of-the-species-but/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The recognition, the diagnosis, and the preservation of psychopathic individuals account for the apparent increase of neurotics in civilized communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-recognition-the-diagnosis-and-the-preservation-of-psychopathic/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Psychology must postulate uniformity of interrelation of physical, physiological, and psychic processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/psychology-must-postulate-uniformity-of-interrelation-of-physical/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) [Explore all 20 Boris Sidis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. 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