A cracked white eggshell releases a thin stream of golden light onto dark blue fabric beside a small magnifying glass.

Original artwork, not a still

William James

Genius in truth means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

William James says genius means little more than perceiving in an unhabitual way. That makes it less like magic and more like looking at ordinary things differently. The special faculty is fresh perception, noticing what habit teaches everyone else to overlook.

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