Honore de Balzac Quotes

Genius is essentially creative; it bears the stamp of the individual who possesses it.

I never wanted to be well-rounded. I do not admire well-rounded people nor their work. So far as I can see, nothing good in the world has ever been done by well-rounded people. The good work is done by people with jagged, broken edges, because those edges cut things and leave an imprint, a design.

Genius may stand on the shoulders of giants, but it stands alone.

If you're a human being walking the earth, you're weird, you're strange, you're psychologically challenged.

In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.

The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. It is also his most difficult task.

Some of the craziest people I've met, in my life, are some of the most brilliant people I've met.

The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius.

You need a strong sense of 'otherness' to be able to create in your life.

To be great is to be misunderstood.

Yes, I think I am a genius, but not a rebel.

I've learned over the years that people are human and have mood swings, regardless of how talented they are. Today, I'm looking at life from a realistic point of view instead of the way I would want things to be.

Men of genius are not be analyzed by commonplace rules.

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

I'm hard to imitate because I'm not gifted enough.

You have to add something of yourself to the portrayal.

I like to tell my own story using my personality and my insight, the way I see things.

Flaws are really interesting.

How am I different than anyone else? I'm a human being, and I have my faults, too.

There is only a very thin line which separates a genius from the eccentric.

Perfect is boring, human is beautiful

From now on - specialize; never again make any concession to the ninety-nine percent of you which is like everyon else at the expense of the one percent which is unique.

People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' Never. My father and mother have closed the factory.

A genius is the one most like himself.

The principal mark of genius is not perfection, but originality.