--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are many perks to living for…" description: "\"“There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably goes li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/kevin-hearne-991_authority_there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twent_362395.jpg" --- # There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries… ![“There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably goes like this: Someone shrugs off the weight of his cultural traditions, ignores the baleful stares of authority, and does something his countrymen think…” quote by Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/kevin-hearne-991_authority_there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twent_362395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/kevin-hearne-991_authority_there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twent_362395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/kevin-hearne-991_authority_there-are-many-perks-to-living-for-twent_362395.jpg) > ““There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius. It invariably goes like this: Someone shrugs off the weight of his cultural traditions, ignores the baleful stares of authority, and does something his countrymen think to be completely batshit insane. Of those, Galileo was my personal favorite. Van Gogh comes in second, but he really was batshit insane. Thank”” [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great genius often emerges from defying tradition and enduring ridicule, exemplified by figures like Galileo and Van Gogh. **In simple terms:** Genius thrives when one challenges norms despite criticism. Key Takeaway Embrace unconventional ideas despite opposition. Themes creativity rebellion genius Mood inspired reverent Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic endeavors - scientific research - entrepreneurship - social movements Key Concepts history psychology innovation cultural conflict Questions to Reflect On - What personal “batshit insane” ideas could you pursue? - How do you handle criticism when breaking norms? A Different Perspective Society may punish non‑conformists, limiting expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Bearing witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bearing-witness/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perks/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [Genius, without work, is certainly a dumb oracle, and it is unquestionably true that the men of the highest genius have invariably been found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/genius-without-work-is-certainly-a-dumb-oracle-and-it-is/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“To vault from the trenches of habitual thinking -- that is the birth of genius." 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If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/let-me-close-by-bearing-witness-and-my-nine-decades-on-this-earth/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Photography is a weapon against what's wrong out there. It's bearing witness to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-stirton/photography-is-a-weapon-against-what-s-wrong-out-there-it-s-bearing/) Brent Stirton > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. 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"It's a Shakespearean word for whore." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/out-out-thou-strumpet-fortune-i-cried-with-all-the-venom-of-charlton/) [kevin hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) [Explore all 311 Kevin Hearne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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