I think true genius is being willing to imagine, experiment, and make mistakes. My oldest thinks Einstein is the ultimate role model--except for how he got lost biking to his own home, or forgot his wife's name on occasion... Well, I guess there's something to be said for balance too.
I especially loved Einstein's last bit there--as an animate believer in the power of imagination. I think envisioning our potential is how we find something worth striving for, and the fight is what makes life worth living.
Which is your favorite piece of advice and why? Do you have any heroes you think are pure geniuses? Have you ever imagined something up and then made reality?
And finally, enter an editing giveaway and sign up for my cover reveal/book release here! *squee*
I think making mistakes, making a mess, taking risks are huge parts of being creative. As someone with perfectionist tendencies, I remind myself of that constantly. :)
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! It's been like pulling teeth to let my babies go and let other people see them before they're exactly right, but I'm learning it's best to operate and remove growths before finalizing the prose.
DeleteI really like number 2. It seems so true with writing.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. That's the one my hubby loved most too.
DeleteThe first three (well, all of them really) are brilliant advice for anyone to follow, but especially writers. Curiosity, imagination and perseverance seem to be the perfect trifecta writers need. :)
ReplyDeleteNow you've got me thinking visually. I'm seeing a triangle with a word written over each side, and the only thing that could make that image better is if it was a wedge of cheese. ;)
DeleteI like number three, sometimes you have to make a mistake to learn something new. Happy to help with cover reveal.
ReplyDeleteUSUALLY you have to make mistakes to learn something new. ;)
DeleteI love quotes, and Einstein's are priceless and full of life lessons. For a writer, imagination is everything, though, without perseverance where would we be? All good!
ReplyDeleteInspiring, right?
DeleteMy favorite piece of advice actually a quote from A League of Their Own: “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.”
ReplyDeleteYeah... :)
Awesome. I love that one.
DeleteEinstein lived an interesting life. I think my favorite is #7, but ask me in a hour and that'll probably change.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely interesting. It's not everyone who helps to create the atom bomb.
DeleteI think that Einstein was just brilliant. I love that to him the world and everything else looked different and he stayed true to himself, even if some people did think he was kind of crazy at the time. All his advice is sound and still very applicable to life today. I tagged you for The Next Big Thing on my blog if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteAw. Thanks for the tag!
DeleteI love quotes! I love Einstein quotes because he was a genius, yet still had a lot of plain old common sense.
ReplyDeleteI have many favorite quotes but since I spent the day at the Ronald Reagan Library, I'll share one of his: While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future.
Awesome. Live for the future. That's advice I occasionally have a hard time focusing on.
DeleteEinstein was a genius and not just in the sciences. Imagination is so important, and it's frightening to see how little of it so many adults have these days.
ReplyDeleteProduct of the public school system, but I won't get into that rant today. ;)
DeleteTrue genius is be willing to imagine, experiment, and make mistakes...
ReplyDeleteexactly that's what help us growing. Experiences shape us and mistakes teach us in so many ways :)
We learn more from our mistakes than our failures, eh?
DeleteThese are very interesting quotes. I like the one about mistakes. I say, "Everything I know, I know because I've made a mistake. I know a lot!"
ReplyDeleteLOL! Take that perfectionists, eh? ;)
DeleteI think mistakes are natures way of making sure we really become educated in something. I can't tell you how many times I "followed the rules" and regurgitated, but it wasn't until I made a real mistake that I figured out what the rules actually were (and they were sort of surprising).
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! I think the self-taught genius far outshines the one who's been taught everything. (Yet another reason to home school.) ;)
DeleteThe last one is surely true. Imagination works best at ones zoo. Then we can make up an answer that is a hit, even if we really are full of ummm it.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! No good comes from squashing creativity.
DeleteWow, love these life lessons, especially the bit about imagination. (No surprise, right?!) Also, the third one (about making mistakes) is something I really needed to hear right now. I've been feeling really depressed about my artwork lately, so this is something I must better try to keep in mind so I don't lose perspective...
ReplyDelete=( But your artwork is awesome!
DeleteI've always loved that quote about imagination being stronger. it truly is. I've always looked up to Dr Seuss. He was a creative genius in my eyes. Totally outside the box ... with a fox ... wearing socks ....lol
ReplyDeleteAs long as it comes with cheese, if you please. ;)
DeleteI love all of those! I think perseverance is especially important!
ReplyDeleteSeconded!
DeleteI'm having a rough day, so this was wonderful to read.
ReplyDeleteAn imagination is a writer's greatest tool. I really like #4 as well.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm the queen of making mistakes. Now I don't feel so bad about that. :)
ReplyDeleteNumber 5 resonates with me.
ReplyDeleteGosh! Whenever I come across an Einstein quote, I'm like YEAH!!!! This is a particularly awesome collection. I love #4. Striving to be of value really brings the right shift into perspective. Plus I'm a huge mistake-maker, so I'm always relieved that those risks add up:D… uhm to something positive! Heidi
ReplyDelete