Bell Hooks Quotes

With some songs, I have written narratives or I've tried to carry it through, but generally the things that were more genius, as far as I was concerned, were not that.

Of course creativity is a mystery. We don't know what drives it or what constitutes it. It's one of those things, like genius, you know it when you see it but it's impossible to define.

Created stuff is meant to be shared. That’s why the creative person created it. Why else do creative people exist?

So, I can't tell you the mentality behind the stuff, because that's thousands of hours manifested into one moment, maybe in the shower or driving down the road that the idea comes and the genius strikes and sometimes, it happens moments before you go to the ring.

Saying that a great genius is mad, while at the same time recognizing his artistic worth, is like saying that he had rheumatism or suffered from diabetes. Madness, in fact, is a medical term that can claim no more notice from the objective critic than he grants the charge of heresy raised by the theologian, or the charge of immorality raised by the police.

Peter had a genius for imitation; but he lacked true genius, which is creative and makes all from nothing.

Masterpieces are no more than the shipwrecked flotsam of great minds.

Bob has never written a bad song. Bob Dylan is a genius.

My method is simple: not to bother about poetry. It must come of its own accord. Merely whispering its name drives it away.

Creative geniuses are a slap-happy lot. Treat Them with respect.

You can't have a masterpiece without madness.

The definition of genius is that it acts unconsciously, and those who have produced immortal works have done so without knowing how or why.

It is necessary for the welfare of society that genius should be privileged to utter sedition, to blaspheme, to outrage good taste, to corrupt the youthful mind, and generally to scandalize one's uncles.

Writers ... I think ... live on that fine line between insanity and genius.

Being an artist is a totally godlike thing to do - and I have a god complex.

I could not but smile to think in what out-of-the-way corners genius produces her bantlings! And the Muses, those capricious dames, who, forsooth, so often refuse to visit palaces, and deny a single smile to votaries in splendid studies, and gilded drawing-rooms--what holes and burrows will they frequent to lavish their favors on some ragged disciple!

I think Tony Fucile, who did the illustrations [for Bink & Gollie], is an absolute genius. I've never met him.

What has been done in the world - the works of genius - cost nothing. There is no painful effort, but it is the spontaneous flowing of the thought. Shakespeare made his Hamlet as a bird weaves its nest.

A writer writes with his genius; an artist paints with hers; everyone who creates operates from this sacramental center.

I'm always careful to say that I changed everything I found.

The faculty of creating is never given to us all by itself. It always goes hand in hand with the gift of observation.

Genius is a talent only for living, those who possess it have little gift for dying.

Coffee is good for talent, but genius wants prayer.

Don't forget that Mozart worked on commission. He almost always would write something if he knew exactly who was paying for it and where it would be performed. So you can't really separate the creation of genius from the appreciation of it.

Indeed, the great Leonardo (da Vinci) remained like a child for the whole of his life in more than one way. It is said that all great men are bound to retain some infantile part. Even as an adult he continued to play, and this was another reason why he often appeared uncanny and incomprehensible to his contemporaries.