--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may have genius. The contrary is, of…" description: "\"You may have genius. The contrary is, of course, probable.\" — Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_contrary_you-may-have-genius-the-contrary-is-of-c_1203549.jpg" --- # You may have genius. The contrary is, of course, probable. ![“You may have genius. The contrary is, of course, probable.” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_contrary_you-may-have-genius-the-contrary-is-of-c_1203549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_contrary_you-may-have-genius-the-contrary-is-of-c_1203549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_contrary_you-may-have-genius-the-contrary-is-of-c_1203549.jpg) > “You may have genius. The contrary is, of course, probable.” [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even geniuses face doubt; the opposite of genius is a plausible possibility, reminding us of humility. **In simple terms:** Geniuses can doubt themselves; humility matters. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in abilities. Themes self‑doubt genius humility probability Mood reflective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - academic work - creative pursuits - career decisions - personal growth Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence and doubt? - When does doubt become constructive? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt can become paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [Newton was a genius, but not because of the superior computational power of his brain. Newton's genius was, on the contrary, his ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-weinberg/newton-was-a-genius-but-not-because-of-the-superior-computational/) [Gerald Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-weinberg/) > [We live in the most probable of all possible worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-live-in-the-most-probable-of-all-possible-worlds/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“Le vrai peut quelquefois n'être pas vraisemblable. 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For the sake of my making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-burr/so-far-i-haven-t-met-anyone-and-with-an-average-fifteen-hour-workday/) [Raymond Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-burr/) ## More by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr > [No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/no-families-take-so-little-medicine-as-those-of-doctors-except-those/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought to read,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/what-refuge-is-there-for-the-victim-who-is-oppressed-with-the-feeling/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Science is the topography of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/science-is-the-topography-of-ignorance/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“My experience with public libraries is that the first volume of the book I inquire for is out, unless I happen to want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/my-experience-with-public-libraries-is-that-the-first-volume-of-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-great-thing-in-this-world-is-not-so-much-where-we-are-but-in/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In the spring, Let them smile, as I do now, At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/and-if-i-should-live-to-be-the-last-leaf-upon-the-tree-in-the-spring/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Yet in opinions look not always back,-- Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track; Leave what you've done for what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/yet-in-opinions-look-not-always-back-your-wake-is-nothing-mind-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The Last Leaf I saw him once before, As he passed by the door, And again The pavement stones resound, As he totters o'er…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-last-leaf-i-saw-him-once-before-as-he-passed-by-the-door-and/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Me wretched! Let me curr to quercine shades! Effund your albid hausts, lactiferous maids! O, might I vole to some umbrageous clump,-- Depart,--be off,--excede,--evade,--erump!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/me-wretched-let-me-curr-to-quercine-shades-effund-your-albid-hausts/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Man is born a predestined idealist, for he is born to act. 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A mother's secret love outlives them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/youth-fades-love-droops-the-leaves-of-friendship-fall-a-mother-s/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Have faith and pursue the unknown end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/have-faith-and-pursue-the-unknown-end/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“A man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/a-man-s-mind-is-stretched-by-a-new-idea-or-sensation-and-never/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [The year is getting to feel rich, for his golden fruits are ripening fast, and he has a large balance in the barns, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-year-is-getting-to-feel-rich-for-his-golden-fruits-are-ripening/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) [Explore all 34 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## More Contrary quotes > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. 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