Book 4 (Part I)

Q. A. Q. A. pus SUMMARY What is genius, and how is it produced? Let us take several specimens of the species, and try to find some one thing common to all which is not found in other species. Is there any such thing? Yes: all geniuses have the habit of concentration of thought, and usually needlongperiodsofsolitude to acquirethis habit. Inparticular, the greatest religious geniuses have all retired from the world at one time or another in their lives, and begun to preach immediately on their return. . Of what advantage is such a retirement? One would expect that a man who so acted would find himself on his return out of touch with his civilization, and in every way less capable than when he left. . But each claims, though in different language, to have gained in his absence some superhuman power. . Do you believe this? It becomes us ill to reject the assertions of those who are admit» 90