The Quote
Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.
– Thomas Edison in 1903.
VOCABULARY
Genius = An extremely intelligent person
Inspiration = a good idea, often at the beginning of a difficult process
Perspiration = sweat – a liquid which is omitted by the skin to cool the body during times of hard work or high temperature
What does it mean?
Edison is saying that being a genius doesn’t mean that you are necessarily an intelligent person. He is saying that most important thing is perspiration and that comes from hard work.
Sometimes to achieve something doesn’t take any intelligence, good ideas or brilliance. It simply needs someone to work away at it until eventually they come across the answer.
Is there anything in your life that you have achieved as a result of hard work rather than intelligence or knowledge?
What makes the difference between being a genius and just being intelligent?
Can you name a genius that is alive right now? Why is he/she a genius?
