Robert Musil Quotes

Originality is the only thing that counts. But the originator uses material and ideas that occur round him and pass through him. And out of his experience comes the original creation.

Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.

You cannot possibly invent painting all by yourself.

Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.

If a piece of genius comes, it comes, and it if doesn't, it doesn't.

Of the three prerequisites of genius; the first is soul; the second is soul; and the third is soul.

I think the important thing about staying creative and staying sharp and original is not to look back too much.

One musician listens to another musician, and you get inspired and then you do your thing, but it's yours.

And what is Genius but finer love, a love impersonal, a love of the flower and perfection of things, and a desire to draw a new picture or copy of the same? It looks to the cause and life: it proceeds from within outward, whilst Talent goes from without inward.

Inspiration is the opportunity of genius.

Creativity occurs in an act of encounter and is to be understood with this encounter as its center.

The world is forever babbling of originality; but there never yet was an original man, in the sense intended by the world; the first man himself--who according to the Rabbins was also the first author--not being an original; the only original author being God.

To the creative individual all experience is seminal-all events are equidistant from new ideasand insights.

The difference between Talent and Genius is that Talent says things which he has never heard but once, and Genius things which he has never heard.

No one was ever great without some portion of divine inspiration.

Talent works, genius creates.

Many men of genius must arise before a particular man of genius can appear.

One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire.

No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.

Most of us don't invent ideas. We take the best ideas from someone else.

What is genius but the power of expressing a new individuality?

Nature is the master of talents; genius is the master of nature.

If you're always thinking about someone else's work, about the tradition you're working in, how can you possibly make anything good?

It is always well to get near to men of genius.