--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Common sense is a vastly overrated…" description: "\"Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. I myself prefer the spark of genius.\" — Margaret Millar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/margaret-millar-19531_common_common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtu_1127009.png" --- # Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. I myself prefer… ![“Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. I myself prefer the spark of genius.” quote by Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/margaret-millar-19531_common_common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtu_1127009.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/margaret-millar-19531_common_common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtu_1127009.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/margaret-millar-19531_common_common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtu_1127009.png) > “Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. I myself prefer the spark of genius.” [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts ordinary practical judgment with extraordinary creative insight, valuing brilliance over everyday prudence. **In simple terms:** Genius matters more than common sense. Key Takeaway Seek innovative thinking over routine judgment. Themes creativity genius common sense valuation Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - artistic creation - problem solving - leadership decisions - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts philosophy psychology innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance practicality with creative daring? - When is common sense more reliable than brilliance? A Different Perspective Genius may lack practicality and can be inaccessible to many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Overrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrated/) [Overrated Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrated-virtue-2826939/) [Prefer Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-spark-3077533/) [Spark Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spark-genius-1251627/) [Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/modesty-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In my opinion, moderation is a vastly overrated virtue, particularly when applied to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/in-my-opinion-moderation-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue-particularly/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Galbraith's First Law: Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/galbraith-s-first-law-modesty-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The spark of a genius exists in the brain of the truly creative man from the hour of his birth. True genius is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-spark-of-a-genius-exists-in-the-brain-of-the-truly-creative-man/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“one spark of genius,suddenly the entire world is filled with anticipation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-kesebonye/one-spark-of-genius-suddenly-the-entire-world-is-filled-with/) [Elliot Kesebonye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-kesebonye/) > [“If you have a spark of genius, kindle it until it becomes a flame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-have-a-spark-of-genius-kindle-it-until-it-becomes-a-flame/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Talent is a spark, genius is the flame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/talent-is-a-spark-genius-is-the-flame/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I agree, intellectualism in photography is overrated. I just wish it could be replaced by common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/i-agree-intellectualism-in-photography-is-overrated-i-just-wish-it/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [Vacations prove that a life of pleasure is overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/vacations-prove-that-a-life-of-pleasure-is-overrated/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Being a Punjabi, it is very hard to say this, but Punjabi food is very overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-brar/being-a-punjabi-it-is-very-hard-to-say-this-but-punjabi-food-is-very/) [Ranveer Brar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-brar/) > [The element of chance in basic research is overrated. Chance is a lady who smiles only upon those few who know how to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/the-element-of-chance-in-basic-research-is-overrated-chance-is-a-lady/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [I think audibles, the way people talk about it, it's overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-think-audibles-the-way-people-talk-about-it-it-s-overrated/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [“Appropriate is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-w-kohlhagen/appropriate-is-overrated/) [Steven W. Kohlhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-w-kohlhagen/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## More by Margaret Millar > [You have what is known as a lot of character, meaning you can be wrong at the top of your lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-have-what-is-known-as-a-lot-of-character-meaning-you-can-be-wrong/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Shrews are made, not born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/shrews-are-made-not-born/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Civilization has imposed countless restrictions and conventions on each of us, with the result that the subconscious in the majority of us has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/civilization-has-imposed-countless-restrictions-and-conventions-on/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The day will probably come when you can tell everything about a person from his dreams except his age and weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-day-will-probably-come-when-you-can-tell-everything-about-a/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the smell of lilacs crept poignantly into the room like a remembered spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-smell-of-lilacs-crept-poignantly-into-the-room-like-a-remembered/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the emotions at death, as at birth, are instinctive and primitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-emotions-at-death-as-at-birth-are-instinctive-and-primitive/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Private problems don't constitute an excuse for bad manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/private-problems-don-t-constitute-an-excuse-for-bad-manners/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Don't borrow trouble. The interest is too high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/don-t-borrow-trouble-the-interest-is-too-high/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I wish people would quit telling me to think. I think. Thinking's easy. It's not thinking that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/i-wish-people-would-quit-telling-me-to-think-i-think-thinking-s-easy/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [When you're counting alibis and not apples, one plus one equals none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/when-you-re-counting-alibis-and-not-apples-one-plus-one-equals-none/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The smell of moist earth and lilacs hung in the air like wisps of the past and hints of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-smell-of-moist-earth-and-lilacs-hung-in-the-air-like-wisps-of-the/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I didn't mind giving up carnality, jewelry and red meat in return for comradeship and an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/i-didn-t-mind-giving-up-carnality-jewelry-and-red-meat-in-return-for/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The world of maps is nice and flat and simple. It has areas for people and areas for monsters. What a shock it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-world-of-maps-is-nice-and-flat-and-simple-it-has-areas-for-people/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-while-you-re-making-other-plans/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) [Explore all 32 Margaret Millar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [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/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [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/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. 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