--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talent is that which is in a man's power…" description: "\"Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is.\" — James Russell Lowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png" --- # Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that… ![“Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png) > “Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is.” [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent is a personal ability; genius is a power that transcends the individual. **In simple terms:** Talent is personal skill; genius is a higher, shared power. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture both personal skill and collective insight. Themes talent genius power Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - education - mentorship - collaborative projects - creative workshops Key Concepts creative potential philosophy of art Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster genius in a community? - What role does humility play in recognizing talent? A Different Perspective Distinguishing talent from genius can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-power-281246/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Man Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-power/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-genius-5425207/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-man-5425206/) ## Related quotes > [Punning is a talent which no man affects to despise but he that is without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/punning-is-a-talent-which-no-man-affects-to-despise-but-he-that-is/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Genius is the power to labor better and more availably. Deserve thy genius: exalt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/genius-is-the-power-to-labor-better-and-more-availably-deserve-thy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-strongest-characteristics-of-genius-is-the-power-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Always be bold in everything you do, because boldness has genius, power and magic in it which makes impossibility possible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adedayo-kingjerry/always-be-bold-in-everything-you-do-because-boldness-has-genius-power/) [Adedayo kingjerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adedayo-kingjerry/) > [Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-do-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of acting creatively under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawless-for-it-is-even-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“Anything you can do, or dream you do, begin it: boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/anything-you-can-do-or-dream-you-do-begin-it-boldness-has-genius/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [One of the satisfactions of a genius is his will-power and obstinacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/one-of-the-satisfactions-of-a-genius-is-his-will-power-and-obstinacy/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [When leadership rises to genius it has the power of transforming, of transforming experience into power. And that is what experience is for, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/when-leadership-rises-to-genius-it-has-the-power-of-transforming-of/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it— Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. —Goethe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-williams/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius/) [Mark Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-williams/) > [Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goethe/whatever-you-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-and/) [Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goethe/) > [Genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/genius-that-power-which-constitutes-a-poet-that-quality-without-which/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The base of all artistic genius is the power of conceiving humanity in a new, striking, rejoicing way, of putting a happy world ofits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/the-base-of-all-artistic-genius-is-the-power-of-conceiving-humanity/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-only-the-power-of-making-continuous-efforts/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More by James Russell Lowell > [We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/we-kind-o-thought-christ-went-agin-war-an-pillage/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-life-runs-on-the-road-grows-strange-with-faces-new-and-near-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Where one person shapes their life by precept and example, there are a thousand who have shaped it by impulse and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/where-one-person-shapes-their-life-by-precept-and-example-there-are-a/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Granting our wish is one of Fate's saddest jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/granting-our-wish-is-one-of-fate-s-saddest-jokes/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The thing we long for, that we are For one transcendent moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-thing-we-long-for-that-we-are-for-one-transcendent-moment/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [O reputation! dearer far than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/o-reputation-dearer-far-than-life/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is beginning to be doubtful whether Parliament and Congress sit in Westminster and Washington, or in the editorial rooms of the leading journals,--so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-beginning-to-be-doubtful-whether-parliament-and-congress-sit-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [ \[B\]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/b-ut-in-literature-it-should-be-remembered-a-thing-always-becomes-his/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-may-be-glorious-to-write-thoughts-that-shall-glad-the-two-or-three/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is the vain endeavor to make ourselves what we are not that has strewn history with so many broken purposes and lives left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-the-vain-endeavor-to-make-ourselves-what-we-are-not-that-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Take winter as you find him, and he turns out to be a thoroughly honest fellow; with no nonsense in him, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/take-winter-as-you-find-him-and-he-turns-out-to-be-a-thoroughly/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-intellect-has-only-one-failing-which-to-be-sure-is-a-very/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Explore all 471 James Russell Lowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## More Genius quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [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/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Never try to judge any one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/never-try-to-judge-any-one/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [“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/) [Browse all 5,125 Genius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Russell Lowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power-genius-is-that-in-whose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Genius" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power-genius-is-that-in-whose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/james-russell-lowell-561_genius_talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power_2298112.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is.” — James Russell Lowell", "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": "James Russell Lowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Talent is that which is in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power-genius-is-that-in-whose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/talent-is-that-which-is-in-a-man-s-power-genius-is-that-in-whose/#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 } } ] } ```