--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As it must not, so genius cannot be…" description: "\"As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of acting creatively under laws of its own originat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg" --- # As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is… ![“As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of acting creatively under laws of its own origination.” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg) > “As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of acting creatively under laws of its own origination.” [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genius thrives within self‑imposed limits; creativity emerges when one respects the inherent rules that give rise to original thought. **In simple terms:** Creativity works best with internal boundaries. Key Takeaway Embrace your own rules to innovate. Themes creativity discipline self‑governance Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing - scientific research - entrepreneurship - personal development Key Concepts philosophy psychology artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom and constraint? - What personal laws guide your creative work? A Different Perspective If rules become too rigid, they may stifle true originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Constitutes Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutes-genius-5162140/) [Creatively Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatively-laws-5162141/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-lawless-3703993/) [Genius Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-power-281246/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lawless Constitutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawless-constitutes-5162142/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Genius does not care much for a set of explicit regulations, but that does not mean that genius is lawless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-henry-parkhurst/genius-does-not-care-much-for-a-set-of-explicit-regulations-but-that/) [Charles Henry Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-henry-parkhurst/) > [Genius is the power of carrying the feelings of childhood into the powers of manhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/genius-is-the-power-of-carrying-the-feelings-of-childhood-into-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Genius is the power to labor better and more availably. Deserve thy genius: exalt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/genius-is-the-power-to-labor-better-and-more-availably-deserve-thy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-strongest-characteristics-of-genius-is-the-power-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The base of all artistic genius is the power of conceiving humanity in a new, striking, rejoicing way, of putting a happy world ofits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/the-base-of-all-artistic-genius-is-the-power-of-conceiving-humanity/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-williams/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius/) [Mark Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-williams/) > [Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-do-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Anything you can do, or dream you do, begin it: boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/anything-you-can-do-or-dream-you-do-begin-it-boldness-has-genius/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [One of the satisfactions of a genius is his will-power and obstinacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/one-of-the-satisfactions-of-a-genius-is-his-will-power-and-obstinacy/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [When leadership rises to genius it has the power of transforming, of transforming experience into power. And that is what experience is for, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/when-leadership-rises-to-genius-it-has-the-power-of-transforming-of/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it— Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. —Goethe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Always be bold in everything you do, because boldness has genius, power and magic in it which makes impossibility possible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adedayo-kingjerry/always-be-bold-in-everything-you-do-because-boldness-has-genius-power/) [Adedayo kingjerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adedayo-kingjerry/) > [Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goethe/whatever-you-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius-and/) [Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goethe/) > [Genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/genius-that-power-which-constitutes-a-poet-that-quality-without-which/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/genius-is-only-the-power-of-making-continuous-efforts/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in the nature and parts of premises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/facts-are-not-truths-they-are-not-conclusions-they-are-not-even/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I do not wish you to act from these truths; no, still and always act from your feelings; only meditate often on these truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/i-do-not-wish-you-to-act-from-these-truths-no-still-and-always-act/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. Let him borrow, and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/a-poet-ought-not-to-pick-nature-s-pocket-let-him-borrow-and-so-borrow/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Ignorance seldom vaults into knowledge...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/ignorance-seldom-vaults-into-knowledge/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/therefore-all-seasons-shall-be-sweet-to-thee-whether-the-summer/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Why are not more gems from our great authors scattered over the country? Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/why-are-not-more-gems-from-our-great-authors-scattered-over-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/life-went-a-maying-with-nature-hope-and-poesy-when-i-was-young/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [No voice; but oh - the silence sank Like music on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/no-voice-but-oh-the-silence-sank-like-music-on-my-heart/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, All melodies the echoes of that voice, All colours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-in-ourselves-rejoice-and-thence-flows-all-that-charms-or-ear-or/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) [Explore all 570 Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of acting creatively under laws of its own origination.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Taylor Coleridge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawless-for-it-is-even-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawless-for-it-is-even-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_acting_as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawle_1441950.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As it must not, so genius cannot be lawless; for it is even that constitutes its genius - the power of…” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Taylor Coleridge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As it must not, so genius...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawless-for-it-is-even-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/as-it-must-not-so-genius-cannot-be-lawless-for-it-is-even-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```