--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What might be taken for a precocious…" description: "\"What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It may happen that this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/pablo-picasso-552_childhood_what-might-be-taken-for-a-precocious-gen_1232579.jpg" --- # What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius… ![“What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It may happen that this boy will become a real painter some day, or even a great painter. But then he will have to begin everything again, from zero.” quote by Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/pablo-picasso-552_childhood_what-might-be-taken-for-a-precocious-gen_1232579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/pablo-picasso-552_childhood_what-might-be-taken-for-a-precocious-gen_1232579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/pablo-picasso-552_childhood_what-might-be-taken-for-a-precocious-gen_1232579.jpg) > “What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It may happen that this boy will become a real painter some day, or even a great painter. But then he will have to begin everything again, from zero.” [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood creativity is raw genius that often fades unless nurtured, requiring a fresh start in adulthood. **In simple terms:** Child genius fades without care. Key Takeaway Cultivate lifelong curiosity. Themes creativity growth learning Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - career change - artistic development - parenting - self‑improvement Key Concepts neuroplasticity innate talent Questions to Reflect On - What practices keep childlike wonder alive? - How can society support early creative talent? A Different Perspective Adults may suppress the innate curiosity of children. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-child-847053/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-childhood-2274826/) [Genius Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-genius-422075/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Precocious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precocious/) [Precocious Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precocious-genius-3715113/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero/) ## Related quotes > [What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/what-might-be-taken-for-a-precocious-genius-is-the-genius-of-2/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I wept because I was re-experiencing the enthusiasm of my childhood; I was once again a child, and nothing in the world could cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-wept-because-i-was-re-experiencing-the-enthusiasm-of-my-childhood-i/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Your roots aren’t to be found in your childhood so much as in your child. It’s he who provides your link to the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/your-roots-aren-t-to-be-found-in-your-childhood-so-much-as-in-your/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [You should really try to live your childhood when you’re a child, because if you do it when you’re 26, it can be dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lookinland/you-should-really-try-to-live-your-childhood-when-you-re-a-child/) [Mike Lookinland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lookinland/) > [“I can write about images from my own childhood for children today. I wasn't sure I could do this, but there was no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-raskin/i-can-write-about-images-from-my-own-childhood-for-children-today-i/) [Ellen Raskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-raskin/) > [I had a very lovely childhood, and, being an only child, I'm very close to my mom and my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-had-a-very-lovely-childhood-and-being-an-only-child-i-m-very-close/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Genius is childhood recalled at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/genius-is-childhood-recalled-at-will/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [A child sees everything in a sense of newness - he is always drunk. Genius is nothing but childhood re-attained at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/a-child-sees-everything-in-a-sense-of-newness-he-is-always-drunk/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Genius is childhood recaptured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/genius-is-childhood-recaptured/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Genius is nothing more or less than childhood recovered by will, a childhood how equipped for self-expression with an adult's capacities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/genius-is-nothing-more-or-less-than-childhood-recovered-by-will-a/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [“Genius is childhood recovered at will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/genius-is-childhood-recovered-at-will/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Genius is no more than childhood recaptured at will, childhood equipped now with man's physical means to express itself, and with the analytical mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/genius-is-no-more-than-childhood-recaptured-at-will-childhood/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recaptured at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/genius-is-nothing-more-nor-less-than-childhood-recaptured-at-will/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [The genius is a genius by the first look he casts on any object. Is his eye creative? Does he not rest in angles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-genius-is-a-genius-by-the-first-look-he-casts-on-any-object-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [For a genius to be a genius, he must have a selfless slave between himself and the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/for-a-genius-to-be-a-genius-he-must-have-a-selfless-slave-between/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) ## More by Pablo Picasso > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The Parthenon is really only a farmyard over which someone put a roof; colonades and sculptures were added because there were people in Athens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-parthenon-is-really-only-a-farmyard-over-which-someone-put-a-roof/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [If I paint a hammer and sickle people may think it is a representation of Communism, but for me it is only a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/if-i-paint-a-hammer-and-sickle-people-may-think-it-is-a/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [One never knows what one is going to do. One starts a painting and then it becomes something quite different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/one-never-knows-what-one-is-going-to-do-one-starts-a-painting-and/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Now there is fame! Of all - hunger, misery, the incomprehension by the public - fame is by far the worst. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/now-there-is-fame-of-all-hunger-misery-the-incomprehension-by-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It takes a long time to become young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-takes-a-long-time-to-become-young/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/we-all-know-that-art-is-not-truth-art-is-a-lie-that-makes-us-realize/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [You see these thick curtains shut out the daylight: artificial light suits me a great deal better; it's absolutely steady, and much more exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/you-see-these-thick-curtains-shut-out-the-daylight-artificial-light/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The best calculation is the absence of calculation. Once you have attained a certain level of recognition, others generally figure that when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-best-calculation-is-the-absence-of-calculation-once-you-have/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Action is the foundational key to all success. --Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/action-is-the-foundational-key-to-all-success-pablo-picasso/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The earth doesn't have a housekeeper to do the dusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-earth-doesn-t-have-a-housekeeper-to-do-the-dusting/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/god-is-really-only-another-artist-he-invented-the-giraffe-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/a-baby-will-make-love-stronger-days-shorter-nights-longer-bankroll/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Explore all 477 Pablo Picasso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It may happen that this boy will become a real painter some day, or even a great painter. 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