--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole difference between a man of…" description: "\"The whole difference between a man of genius and other men, it has been said a thousand times, and most truly, is that the first remains in great part ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/john-ruskin-314_admiration_the-whole-difference-between-a-man-of-ge_2051122.jpg" --- # The whole difference between a man of genius and other… ![“The whole difference between a man of genius and other men, it has been said a thousand times, and most truly, is that the first remains in great part a child, seeing with the large eyes of children, in perpetual wonder, not conscious of much knowledge--conscious, rather of infinite ignorance, and…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/john-ruskin-314_admiration_the-whole-difference-between-a-man-of-ge_2051122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/john-ruskin-314_admiration_the-whole-difference-between-a-man-of-ge_2051122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/john-ruskin-314_admiration_the-whole-difference-between-a-man-of-ge_2051122.jpg) > “The whole difference between a man of genius and other men, it has been said a thousand times, and most truly, is that the first remains in great part a child, seeing with the large eyes of children, in perpetual wonder, not conscious of much knowledge--conscious, rather of infinite ignorance, and yet infinite power; a fountain of eternal admiration, delight, and creative force within him meeting the ocean of visible and governable things around him.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A genius retains childlike wonder and acknowledges their own ignorance, which fuels limitless creativity and admiration for the world. **In simple terms:** Genius stays childlike, embraces ignorance, creates powerfully. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and humility. Themes creativity humility wonder knowledge power Mood awe inspired reflective Type philosophical motivational inspirational When to use this quote - artistic inspiration - scientific discovery - personal growth - teaching - leadership Key Concepts Childlike perception infinite ignorance creative force Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance childlike curiosity with adult responsibility? - What does acknowledging ignorance unlock for you? A Different Perspective Childlike wonder can be mistaken for naiveté, hindering practical decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eyes of a child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-of-a-child/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Infinite power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-power/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [You do not know what you are going to do,the only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing…It is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-do-not-know-what-you-are-going-to-do-the-only-thing-you-know-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Wonder begets culture, which begets yet more wonder, and the end of wonder is wisdom, which is the state of perpetual wonder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/wonder-begets-culture-which-begets-yet-more-wonder-and-the-end-of/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [Man as an individual is a genius. But men in the mass form the headless monster, a great, brutish idiot that goes where prodded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/man-as-an-individual-is-a-genius-but-men-in-the-mass-form-the/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [“So far as one understands a man, one is that man. 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It demands that we stand open to experience, that we recapture our ability to see life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danah-zohar/high-sq-demands-the-most-intense-personal-integrity-it-demands-that/) Danah Zohar > [Try to look at everything through the eyes of a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-draper/try-to-look-at-everything-through-the-eyes-of-a-child/) [Ruth Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-draper/) > [“Is the sky cloudy? Can’t you see the shining stars? 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Brock Lesnar is here to shock the WWE Universe and put TEARS in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-heyman/brock-lesnar-is-not-here-to-put-smiles-on-people-s-faces-brock-lesnar/) [Paul Heyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-heyman/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. 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