--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Genius is the ability to act rightly…" description: "\"Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent - the power to do the right thing the first time.\" — Elbert Hubbard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png" --- # Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent… ![“Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent - the power to do the right thing the first time.” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png) > “Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent - the power to do the right thing the first time.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting correctly without prior example shows true genius, emphasizing original, ethical action over imitation. **In simple terms:** True genius acts rightly without prior example. Key Takeaway Embrace original ethical action. Themes originality ethics leadership Mood inspired determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business decisions - creative projects - emergency response - personal dilemmas Key Concepts Innovation moral courage Questions to Reflect On - How can you act ethically without a model? - What risks arise from pioneering untested paths? A Different Perspective May lack guidance when precedent is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-act-602009/) [Act Rightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-rightly-602007/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-ability-602006/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedent/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Rightly Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rightly-precedent-602008/) ## Related quotes > [The truest test of a democracy is in the ability of anyone to act as he likes, so long as he does not injure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-truest-test-of-a-democracy-is-in-the-ability-of-anyone-to-act-as/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Learning to think rigorously, so as to act rightly and to serve humanity better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/learning-to-think-rigorously-so-as-to-act-rightly-and-to-serve/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-main-purpose-of-life-is-to-live-rightly-think-rightly-act-rightly/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-do-not-act-rightly-because-we-have-virtue-or-excellence-but-they/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Excellence" is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act "rightly" because we are "excellent", in fact we achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/excellence-is-not-a-gift-but-a-skill-that-takes-practice-we-do-not/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Be under the broad day light and act rightly; go into the dark night and do the same thing. 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Banner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-w-banner/) > [“Genius could be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way, or even to say a simple thing in a simpler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/genius-could-be-the-ability-to-say-a-profound-thing-in-a-simple-way/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Genius: the ability to prolong one's childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/genius-the-ability-to-prolong-one-s-childhood/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-leader-of-genius-must-have-the-ability-to-make-different/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I like to say that Bobby Fischer was the greatest player ever. But what made Fischer a genius was his ability to blend an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pandolfini/i-like-to-say-that-bobby-fischer-was-the-greatest-player-ever-but/) [Bruce Pandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pandolfini/) > [Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/genius-is-the-ability-to-put-into-effect-what-is-on-your-mind/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent - the power to do the right thing the first time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elbert Hubbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-without-precedent-the-power-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-without-precedent-the-power-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/elbert-hubbard-510_ability_genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-wit_2454812.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Genius is the ability to act rightly without precedent - the power to do the right thing the first time.” — Elbert Hubbard", "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": "Elbert Hubbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Genius is the ability to act...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-without-precedent-the-power-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-the-ability-to-act-rightly-without-precedent-the-power-to/#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 } } ] } ```