Adulthood Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“To carry feelings of childhood into the powers of adulthood, to combine the child's sense of wonder and novelty with the appearances which every day for years has rendered familiar, this is the character and privilege of genius, and one of the marks which distinguish it from talent.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", 1798
Genius blends childlike wonder with adult experience, turning familiar into fresh insight.
In simple terms: Combining wonder with experience creates genius.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity alongside expertise.
Themes
genius
creativity
wonder
experience
novelty
Mood
inspired
hopeful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- learning new skills
- reframing routine tasks
- encouraging play in work
- teaching children to think critically
Key Concepts
imagination
insight
growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you re‑ignite childlike curiosity in your work?
- What familiar tasks could you view anew?
A Different Perspective
Talent alone lacks the transformative power of wonder.
