Quote by Italo Calvino

What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspiration is nothing other than finding the right road empirically, following one's nose, taking shortcuts.

What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspira

Summary

This quote suggests that the commonly used terms of "genius," "talent," or "inspiration" in romantic contexts are merely referring to the process of experimenting and discovering the correct path through trial and error. It implies that these notions are not mysterious or unattainable special abilities, but rather the result of practical navigation, intuition, and clever maneuvering. In essence, the quote challenges the perception of genius by emphasizing the importance of empirical exploration and strategic decision-making rather than relying solely on divine inspiration or innate talent.

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By Italo Calvino

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