148 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
GENIUS AND SUCCESS. 
ABSTRACT OF MR. R. COLLIEr's PAPER. 
(Read March 23rd, 1871.) 
There is a fundamental difference of kind as well as of degree in 
the endowments of the human mind. The faculties which pro- 
duce genius are generically different from those resulting in mere 
ability. The progress of knowledge decreases the difference in 
value between the two classes of intellect by narrowing the scope 
of genius and rendering systematisation more necessary. The 
disposition of mind conducive to genius is a love of bold investi- 
gation which refuses to take anything for granted, and keeps always 
recurring to first principles. The special faculty of genius is to 
turn every kind of knowledge that comes in its way to good 
account, and to see analogies and distinctions which escape ordinary 
minds. Genius may be divided into two great divisions — the 
artistic and the scientific form ; and these forms are so different 
that a man of undoubted genius in the one is often unusually 
deficient in his power of appreciating the other. The ornamental 
form of genius is very difficult to treat of in connection with 
success. I therefore confine myself to enquiring how far genius of 
the scientific or useful kind is necessary or instrumental to success. 
In the three professions of politics, law, and medicine, the dis- 
tinguishing characteristics of men of genius and successful men are 
especially remarkable. Political and legal genius are very nearly 
allied, the broad distinction between them being that the legislative 
efforts of the statesman are principally directed to the task of 
increasing the health, wealth, and power of the community; 
whereas the lawyer legislates for the security and permanent 
enjoyment of the blessings previously obtained by his colleague the 
statesman. "We are indebted to the statesman for the means of 
acquiring our possessions, while the lawyer sees we are not obliged 
to part with them except in the regular way. The disposition 
necessary for success is totally different from that conducive to 
