--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a…" description: "\"No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.\" — Buster Keaton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png" --- # No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat. ![“No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.” quote by Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png) > “No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.” [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genius requires proper attire and preparation; casualness undermines brilliance. **In simple terms:** Success needs preparation. Key Takeaway Prepare thoroughly before attempting greatness. Themes preparation professionalism genius Mood humorous serious Type advice observational When to use this quote - public speaking - performing - leadership Key Concepts image confidence social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does your appearance affect your confidence? - What preparation steps boost your performance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on appearance can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Hats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [If I'm outside, I want something flat on my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/if-i-m-outside-i-want-something-flat-on-my-feet/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [Common sense tells us that the world is flat, that the sun goes around the earth, that heavy bodies always fall faster than light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/common-sense-tells-us-that-the-world-is-flat-that-the-sun-goes-around/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [We live in a flat; my wife would be happy if we had a house with stairs. Or a little cottage in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/we-live-in-a-flat-my-wife-would-be-happy-if-we-had-a-house-with/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [As a dream comes true, it falls flat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/as-a-dream-comes-true-it-falls-flat/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [By 'flat' I did not mean that the world is getting equal. I said that more people in more places can now compete, connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/by-flat-i-did-not-mean-that-the-world-is-getting-equal-i-said-that/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [It is hard for a flat thing to understand a round one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-dove/it-is-hard-for-a-flat-thing-to-understand-a-round-one/) [Arthur Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-dove/) > [It is surrounded by a thin flat ring, inclined to the ecliptic, and nowhere touches the body of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiaan-huygens/it-is-surrounded-by-a-thin-flat-ring-inclined-to-the-ecliptic-and/) [Christiaan Huygens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiaan-huygens/) > [9p.m. My flat. Feel very strange and empty. Is all very well thinking everything is going to be different when you come back but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/9p-m-my-flat-feel-very-strange-and-empty-is-all-very-well-thinking/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [He whose mouth is out of taste says the wine is flat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-whose-mouth-is-out-of-taste-says-the-wine-is-flat/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Ez fer war, I call it murder,- There you hev it plain an' flat; I don't want to go no furder Than my Testyment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/ez-fer-war-i-call-it-murder-there-you-hev-it-plain-an-flat-i-don-t/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [I remember an old Singer sewing machine at home that belonged to my grandmother. It had a pedal. My mom taught me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibhu-mohapatra/i-remember-an-old-singer-sewing-machine-at-home-that-belonged-to-my/) [Bibhu Mohapatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibhu-mohapatra/) > [A flat tax is roughly the same as a sales tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frank/a-flat-tax-is-roughly-the-same-as-a-sales-tax/) [Bob Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-frank/) > [I'm all about a flat shoe. It takes a lot to get me into a heel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-m-all-about-a-flat-shoe-it-takes-a-lot-to-get-me-into-a-heel/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [A flat black bug, that is London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verlaine/a-flat-black-bug-that-is-london/) [Paul Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verlaine/) > [A cricket ground is a flat piece of earth with some buildings around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-benaud/a-cricket-ground-is-a-flat-piece-of-earth-with-some-buildings-around/) [Richie Benaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-benaud/) ## More by Buster Keaton > [Like everyone else, I like to be with a happy crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/like-everyone-else-i-like-to-be-with-a-happy-crowd/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [A comedian does funny things. A good comedian does things funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/a-comedian-does-funny-things-a-good-comedian-does-things-funny/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [I don't act, anyway. The stuff is all injected as we go along. My pictures are made without script or written directions of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-don-t-act-anyway-the-stuff-is-all-injected-as-we-go-along-my/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [If one more person tells me this is just like old times, I swear I'll jump out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/if-one-more-person-tells-me-this-is-just-like-old-times-i-swear-i-ll/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [All my life I have been happiest when the folks watching me said to each other, 'Look at the poor dope, wilya?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/all-my-life-i-have-been-happiest-when-the-folks-watching-me-said-to/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [And if there is sweeter music this side of heaven I haven't heard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/and-if-there-is-sweeter-music-this-side-of-heaven-i-haven-t-heard-it/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [The funny thing about our act is that dad gets the worst of it, although I'm the one who apparently receives the bruises .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/the-funny-thing-about-our-act-is-that-dad-gets-the-worst-of-it/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [I was mad at the time, or I would never have done the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-was-mad-at-the-time-or-i-would-never-have-done-the-thing/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [Charlie Chaplin and I would have a friendly contest: Who could do the feature film with the least subtitles?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/charlie-chaplin-and-i-would-have-a-friendly-contest-who-could-do-the/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [Is Hollywood the cruelest city in the world? Well, it can be. New York can be that, too. You can be a Broadway star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/is-hollywood-the-cruelest-city-in-the-world-well-it-can-be-new-york/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [ I've had few dull moments \[in my life\] and not too many sad and defeated ones. In saying this I am by no means… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-ve-had-few-dull-moments-in-my-life-and-not-too-many-sad-and/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [I gotta do some sad scenes. Why, I never tried to make anybody cry in my life! And I go 'round all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-gotta-do-some-sad-scenes-why-i-never-tried-to-make-anybody-cry-in/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [I don't feel qualified to talk about my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-don-t-feel-qualified-to-talk-about-my-work/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [“I was standing on the deck looking down at a gang of stevedores working on the dock thirty feet below. One of them recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-was-standing-on-the-deck-looking-down-at-a-gang-of-stevedores/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [Not long ago a friend asked me what was the greatest pleasure I got from spending my whole life as an actor. There have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/not-long-ago-a-friend-asked-me-what-was-the-greatest-pleasure-i-got/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) [Explore all 27 Buster Keaton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) ## More Flat quotes > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [I remember my own life as a small boy, son of Jewish immigrants, in a janitor's flat on Orchard and Stanton streets on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-k-javits/i-remember-my-own-life-as-a-small-boy-son-of-jewish-immigrants-in-a/) [Jacob K. Javits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-k-javits/) > [I've always been interested in DIY and home renovation - even from my first student flat. I've always left places better than when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-mclean/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-diy-and-home-renovation-even-from-my/) [Andrea McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-mclean/) > [In spring they lie flat at the first warmth, they ruin my summer and in autumn they smell of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-claus/in-spring-they-lie-flat-at-the-first-warmth-they-ruin-my-summer-and/) [Hugo Claus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-claus/) > [If I'm outside, I want something flat on my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/if-i-m-outside-i-want-something-flat-on-my-feet/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [A flat black bug, that is London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verlaine/a-flat-black-bug-that-is-london/) [Paul Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verlaine/) > [I'm all about a flat shoe. It takes a lot to get me into a heel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-m-all-about-a-flat-shoe-it-takes-a-lot-to-get-me-into-a-heel/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [Now, I am not saying that the world is flat, but it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/now-i-am-not-saying-that-the-world-is-flat-but-it-could-be/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [From as far back as I can remember, I was always insecure about my looks, whether it was my flat chest, my skinny legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/from-as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-insecure-about-my/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [“Wouldn’t it be nice if the world was flat? That way we could just push off the people we don’t like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-the-world-was-flat-that-way-we-could-just-push/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A flat tax is roughly the same as a sales tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frank/a-flat-tax-is-roughly-the-same-as-a-sales-tax/) [Bob Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-frank/) > [“Today is a day when the world turns out to be flat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/today-is-a-day-when-the-world-turns-out-to-be-flat/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [I live like in the days of Daniel Boone, hauling water by hand. I used to have two Rolls-Royces. Now I got one. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-live-like-in-the-days-of-daniel-boone-hauling-water-by-hand-i-used/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I remember an old Singer sewing machine at home that belonged to my grandmother. It had a pedal. My mom taught me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibhu-mohapatra/i-remember-an-old-singer-sewing-machine-at-home-that-belonged-to-my/) [Bibhu Mohapatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibhu-mohapatra/) > [If there's anything consistent about my work, it's not flat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/if-there-s-anything-consistent-about-my-work-it-s-not-flat/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) Browse all 280 Flat quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Buster Keaton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and-a-flat-hat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and-a-flat-hat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/buster-keaton-22416_flat_no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and_943838.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat.” — Buster Keaton", "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": "Buster Keaton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No man can be a genius...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and-a-flat-hat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/no-man-can-be-a-genius-in-slapshoes-and-a-flat-hat/#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 } } ] } ```