--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We reserve the term 'genius' for people…" description: "\"We reserve the term 'genius' for people who are creative, who are innovators, who think in ways that are entirely new. In the Middle Ages, the term 'ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/joshua-foer-4147_ages_we-reserve-the-term-genius-for-people-wh_790780.png" --- # We reserve the term 'genius' for people who are creative… ![“We reserve the term 'genius' for people who are creative, who are innovators, who think in ways that are entirely new. In the Middle Ages, the term 'genius' was reserved for people with the best memories. That is telling.” quote by Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/joshua-foer-4147_ages_we-reserve-the-term-genius-for-people-wh_790780.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/joshua-foer-4147_ages_we-reserve-the-term-genius-for-people-wh_790780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/joshua-foer-4147_ages_we-reserve-the-term-genius-for-people-wh_790780.png) > “We reserve the term 'genius' for people who are creative, who are innovators, who think in ways that are entirely new. In the Middle Ages, the term 'genius' was reserved for people with the best memories. That is telling.” [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The meaning of “genius” shifted from memory mastery to original creation, showing cultural values change. **In simple terms:** Genius now means creativity, not just recall. Key Takeaway Cultivate originality over rote memorization. Themes creativity innovation history culture Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - school curricula - creative industries - personal development Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science education Questions to Reflect On - How can we redefine success? - What supports creative growth? A Different Perspective Old definitions still influence expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-innovators-1864019/) [Entirely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entirely/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-people-350950/) [Genius Reserved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-reserved-614511/) [Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovators/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserve/) [Reserved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserved/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-genius-548564/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [It is possible that the production of genius is reserved to a limited period of mankind's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-possible-that-the-production-of-genius-is-reserved-to-a-limited/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [People all across the country do wonderful projects and initiatives and yet we are not sharing and collaborating often. I hope to make creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-biden/people-all-across-the-country-do-wonderful-projects-and-initiatives/) [Ashley Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-biden/) > [The term "genius" gets used far too loosely in rock & roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-term-genius-gets-used-far-too-loosely-in-rock-roll/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [There's a certain standard in classical music that allows the application of the term "genius," but you're treading on thin ice if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/there-s-a-certain-standard-in-classical-music-that-allows-the/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [“Philosophy is to the mind of the architect as eyesight to his steps. The Term 'genius' when applied to him simply means a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/philosophy-is-to-the-mind-of-the-architect-as-eyesight-to-his-steps/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Critics are notoriously liberal with their use of the term 'genius'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/critics-are-notoriously-liberal-with-their-use-of-the-term-genius/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The term 'genius' is inapplicable to anyone in this game. A genius is Norman Einstein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-theismann/the-term-genius-is-inapplicable-to-anyone-in-this-game-a-genius-is/) [Joe Theismann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-theismann/) > [Since at least the Middle Ages, philosophers and philologists have dreamed of curing natural languages of their flaws by constructing entirely new idioms according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/since-at-least-the-middle-ages-philosophers-and-philologists-have/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [With our blogs and tweets, digital cameras, and unlimited-gigabyte e-mail archives, participation in the online culture now means creating a trail of always present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/with-our-blogs-and-tweets-digital-cameras-and-unlimited-gigabyte-e/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [I think that all the Mel Brooks' company of actors is just tremendous. It was a crazy group of genius people. All of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-all-the-mel-brooks-company-of-actors-is-just-tremendous/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [While legislation can stimulate and encourage, the real creative ability which builds up and develops the country, and in general makes human existence more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/while-legislation-can-stimulate-and-encourage-the-real-creative/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [You're called a genius by people, and then your whole life you become the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/you-re-called-a-genius-by-people-and-then-your-whole-life-you-become/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [An art form requires genius. People of genius are always troublemakers, meaning they start from scratch, demolish accepted norms and rebuild a new world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-langlois/an-art-form-requires-genius-people-of-genius-are-always-troublemakers/) [Henri Langlois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-langlois/) > [Stupid people words are Mind your own Business But Genius people words are Mind others' Businesses first realize their weakness then modify ur business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyakallo-lets-ela/stupid-people-words-are-mind-your-own-business-but-genius-people/) [Nyakallo Lets'ela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyakallo-lets-ela/) > [And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-while-some-may-see-them-as-the-crazy-ones-we-see-genius-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Joshua Foer > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“I don’t think I’m an exceptionally bad reader. I suspect that many people, maybe even most, are like me. We read and read and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/i-don-t-think-i-m-an-exceptionally-bad-reader-i-suspect-that-many/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [Life seems to speed up as we get older because life gets less memorable as we get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/life-seems-to-speed-up-as-we-get-older-because-life-gets-less/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“We can only think about roughly seven things at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/we-can-only-think-about-roughly-seven-things-at-a-time/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [With our blogs and tweets, digital cameras, and unlimited-gigabyte e-mail archives, participation in the online culture now means creating a trail of always present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/with-our-blogs-and-tweets-digital-cameras-and-unlimited-gigabyte-e/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [How much are we willing to lose from our already short lives by losing ourselves in our Blackberries, our iPhones, by not paying attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/how-much-are-we-willing-to-lose-from-our-already-short-lives-by/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“I Came away from the U.S. Memory Championship eager to find out how Ed and Lukas did it. Were these just extraordinary individuals, pridigies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/i-came-away-from-the-u-s-memory-championship-eager-to-find-out-how-ed/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [The 'OK Plateau' is that place we all get to where we just stop getting better at something. Take typing, for example. You might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/the-ok-plateau-is-that-place-we-all-get-to-where-we-just-stop-getting/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“One book, printed in the Heart’s own wax / Is worth a thousand in the stacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/one-book-printed-in-the-heart-s-own-wax-is-worth-a-thousand-in-the-2/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic process that leaves them teeming with irregularities, quirks, and words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/languages-are-something-of-a-mess-they-evolve-over-centuries-through/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [Invented languages have often been created in tandem with entire invented universes, and most conlangers come to their craft by way of fantasy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/invented-languages-have-often-been-created-in-tandem-with-entire/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“Perhaps, as Borges concludes in his story, it is forgetting, not remembering, that is the essence of what makes us human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/perhaps-as-borges-concludes-in-his-story-it-is-forgetting-not/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [Someday in the distant cyborg future, when our internal and external memories fully merge, we may come to possess infinite knowledge. But that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/someday-in-the-distant-cyborg-future-when-our-internal-and-external/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [What makes things memorable is that they are meaningful, significant, colorful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/what-makes-things-memorable-is-that-they-are-meaningful-significant/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“As the historian Jocelyn Penny Small pointed out, GODISNOWHERE comes out a lot differently when rendered as GOD IS NOW HERE versus GOD IS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/as-the-historian-jocelyn-penny-small-pointed-out-godisnowhere-comes/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) [Explore all 114 Joshua Foer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) ## More Ages quotes > [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [People do stop me a lot, and what is really very rewarding is that the ages of the people who stop me vary so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-mcewan/people-do-stop-me-a-lot-and-what-is-really-very-rewarding-is-that-the/) [Geraldine McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-mcewan/) > [I have a very low tolerance for boredom and often think I would have missed out on books entirely if Id grown up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-have-a-very-low-tolerance-for-boredom-and-often-think-i-would-have/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [It is pain that ages us, not years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-prudden/it-is-pain-that-ages-us-not-years/) [Bonnie Prudden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-prudden/) > [We owe America something because they turned us into a touring band. But at least we feel confident about appearing in Britain again now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marriott/we-owe-america-something-because-they-turned-us-into-a-touring-band/) [Steve Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-marriott/) > [It's amazing when I do a gig how many people of different ages come up to me afterwards and chat to me about songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/it-s-amazing-when-i-do-a-gig-how-many-people-of-different-ages-come/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [There were three terrible ages of childhood - zero to 10, 10 to 20, and 20 to 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/there-were-three-terrible-ages-of-childhood-zero-to-10-10-to-20-and/) [Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/) > [Nothing ages like laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/nothing-ages-like-laziness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Music has no limits, borders or ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia/music-has-no-limits-borders-or-ages/) [Thalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia/) > [Ripen your mind to the glorious history of the ages and revel in your mastery as today's youth shall look upon you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/ripen-your-mind-to-the-glorious-history-of-the-ages-and-revel-in-your/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I think that as I had children, I have five sons, and they got into video games and were the prime ages through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-think-that-as-i-had-children-i-have-five-sons-and-they-got-into/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Get off the stages, this is my show, my performance, for the ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/get-off-the-stages-this-is-my-show-my-performance-for-the-ages/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [Chemotherapy is just medieval. It's such a blunt instrument. We're going to look back on it like we do the dark ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/chemotherapy-is-just-medieval-it-s-such-a-blunt-instrument-we-re/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/the-seven-ages-of-man-spills-drills-thrills-bills-ills-pills-and-wills/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [A nation may be born in a day, but the great truths which make for the glory and uplift of the race only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/a-nation-may-be-born-in-a-day-but-the-great-truths-which-make-for-the/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 263 Ages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We reserve the term 'genius' for people who are creative, who are innovators, who think in ways that are entirely new. In the Middle Ages, the term 'genius' was reserved for people with the best memories. 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