“What we refer to as a great and special talent usually implies superiority that is expeditious rather than qualitative. In other words, it simply means doing quickly and with brilliant success what ordinary intellects carry out slowly but well. Instead of distinguishing between mediocre and great minds, it would be preferable and more correct in [...]
“I believe that excessive admiration for the work of great minds is one of the most unfortunate preoccupations of intellectual youth–along with a conviction that certain problems cannot be attacked, let alone solved, because of one’s relatively limited abilities.
“In ordinate respect for genius is based on a commendable sense of fairness and modesty that is [...]
“[This advice] may prove comforting and useful to a large number of modest individuals with a retiring nature who, despite yearning for reputation, have not yet reaped the desired harvest, due either to a certain lack of determination or to misdirected efforts. This advice is aimed more at the spirit than the intellect because I [...]