In every work of genius, we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self Reliance,” Essays, 1841
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction. – E.F. Schumacher
I have known no man of genius who had not to pay, in some affliction or defect, either physical or spiritual, for what the gods had given him. – Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, 1911
Most of the good executives do pretty well. Because to be a good executive you have to be strong, and you have to have a simple attribute that people have forgotten about – courage. – John Milius
I always market research my books before I hand them in by showing them to five or six close friends who I trust to be honest with me, so they are very heavily re-written already. – Helen Fielding
