Miscellany

This week I found myself returning once again to a word that has been lingering in my mind for quite a while. This familiar but somewhat difficult word is “genius”.

Since entering university, I have often heard people say things like, “Wow, you are a genius!” Most of the time, the students receiving such praise are those who study mathematics or physics. Whenever someone solves a difficult problem quickly or demonstrates remarkable skill in a technical field, the word appears almost automatically.

Yet this habit leaves me with an uneasy feeling. The main concern is what the so-called “genius” is actually thinking when others praise them in this way. Do the people offering these compliments truly admire the person’s abilities, or are they simply repeating a fashionable phrase? Sometimes it seems as though the word is used without much thought at all.

So perhaps the first question we should ask is a simple one: What the hell is genius?

Consider a few common situations. Someone who solves Sudoku puzzles quickly is called a genius rather than a diligent thinker. Someone who writes elegant code is praised as a genius instead of being recognized for careful reasoning and disciplined logic. In many cases, the word replaces a more accurate description of the qualities behind the achievement.

What troubles me most is the overuse of the word. Too often people are judged by their performance rather than the virtues that produce it. Yet the deeper qualities—patience, persistence, attention to detail—remain invisible. Achievements are easy to admire; virtues require more careful observation.

Perhaps my thoughts sound somewhat cynical, but I believe there is a meaningful question hidden beneath this phenomenon.

This reflection also applies to myself. I have felt as if I were gradually losing my bearings. I have seen too many successful people boasting about their achievements online and in real life (at least I think), and such displays make me think about my own future career.

I am not naïve. It is obvious that taking courses and conducting research do not necessarily lead directly to financial success. Faced with increasingly difficult classes and the discouraging thought that “everything learned at school is useless,” I began to lose some of my passion for the learning process itself. At moments like this, the phrase “you are a genius” sounds strangely hollow to my ears.

In reality, almost everyone who is regarded as a genius—though perhaps not every single one—shares certain qualities: remarkable patience, deep curiosity, and the determination to overcome difficulties. These individuals remain extraordinary regardless of whether others praise them. Their abilities do not come from applause.

At the same time, if one is not a genius, that does not mean one is worthless. Humanity does not consist only of geniuses. The existence of genius does not transform ordinary people, nor can the word itself change anyone’s nature. Calling someone a genius or a fool ultimately alters very little.

Several weeks ago I intended to write an article about Sherlock Holmes on this blog, but things did not proceed as planned. Nevertheless, he offers an interesting example for this discussion.

Holmes is often described as a genius, yet readers frequently overlook the origin of his abilities. His remarkable deductions do not emerge from nowhere. He trained himself deliberately to become a detective. His life is filled with chemical experiments, meticulous observations, and specialized knowledge—such as his famous study of more than a hundred varieties of cigar ash. These skills were not gifts from the heavens; they were the result of persistent effort.

Holmes can transform trivial details into thrilling cases because investigation is his profession. He notices the faintest clues in a client’s words because he has cultivated both attention and empathy. In other words, a genius is still very much a human being.

Holmes himself is far from perfect. At times he allows a suspect to escape punishment when his conscience conflicts with the strict letter of the law. He confronts the darkest aspects of human behavior, yet he remains courageous enough to face them. His temperament can occasionally be outrageous, but Dr. Watson continues to admire him because certain qualities never abandon him: curiosity, bravery, and patience.

Perhaps that is the most important point. Holmes is extraordinary not because he is something beyond humanity, but because he embodies some of humanity’s finest qualities.

That is why we may call him a genius— but never a god.