Cool anecdote (I love stuff like that). How about clarifying the point you're trying to ask or refining the question a bit more?

If ya got it, you got it. If ya don't got it, you might get it with time and practice. But you might be trying a square peg in a round hole.

I think me/calculus was the square peg/round hole thing.

It is a funny thing that everyone has his own answers, yet we all seem to look for THE answer as evidenced by many of the threads on this forum. Another thing we do is cling to the answer that agrees with us as being the right answer.

I like the Mozart reply (although, I think it is an urban myth) and cling to it as well, but I don't think other composers would necessarilly give the same answer. Beethoven, for example, would have said "what?". That might be an answer that someone else could cling to as well.

One of the things that I find most amusing while surfing landscape architect's websites is the "Design Philosophy" page. These are like reading the back label of a bottle of wine. Now I can read about symphonies of fruit and hints of delight all day long and they always seem to leave out the part about prune juice or battery acid that seems to be the part they put in the bottle. I think it would be refreshing to read a philosophy that was more like "Get 'er done".

I had never heard that quote before. Maybe the true answer lies in finding what your gifts are and living them. Sometimes we want to be what we are not and we work really hard to get there. Then, when we do, we find that there are those who are what we aspire to naturally. Don't we all have gifts of some kind, even if they're not what we hoped for?

I'm half asleep this morning but feel the need to chime in re. Mozart. Whenever we consider Mozart we must also consider that he had a ruthless, money-hungry father who capitalized on his son's genius to the detirment of his son's emotional and psychological health. In my opinion, given Mozart's arrogance, emotional handicaps, and lack of social skills, it is unlikely that he was a font of wisdom.

In regards to this specific "quote", it is likely an urban myth as Andrew points out. Still I think it's a rather useless statement. There are actually very few geniuses. Everyone can benefit from experience and education.

Patty (after I drink my coffee I may feel differently)

Tony,

I have to tell you that I also subscribe to Robert Genn's biweekly newsletter. It is frequently rich in little promptings of mental stimulation -- no matter what your station in life. I attribute my discovery of this twice weekly email gem to your participation on this forum. Thank you.

IronBelly

OK, I'm interested in this newsletter too. How do I find it?

A Google search for "Robert Genn newsletter" turned up the following link as the first hit.

- Brent

Here is a link that might be useful: The Painter's Key

Where this (probably apocryphal) anecdote falls down is that it does not reflect reality as applied to Mozart.

Wolfgang was educated by his father (an accomplished violinist, teacher and composer) as well as being inspired by others (including Haydn, whom he greatly admired and from whose work he received ideas).

In gardening/design terms, it helps to provide some tips, as well as advice on how to develop one's own knowledge base and style.

Anecdotes are fun, though.

"Hey mister, how do I get to Carnegie Hall?"

"Practice, young man. Practice." ;)

These are like reading the back label of a bottle of wine. Now I can read about symphonies of fruit and hints of delight all day long and they always seem to leave out the part about prune juice or battery acid that seems to be the part they put in the bottle.

Laag, I think you're mistaking marketing for philosophy. :^)

Ever watch old Monty Python sketch on a chocolate shop where the proprietor melifluously describes the contents of a bonbon made with lark's vomit ("...lovingly wrapped in a melt-in-your-mouth layer of the finest milk chocolate...")?

Most of the time, the on-line brochures are just market hype to sell a "concept" to the uninformed. The Mozart urban legend is apt -- all the trimmings and fixings don't mean anything if there is no substance. And the substance has to be seen in the form of a working portfolio for a look at the creativity, and an actual hands-on contractor who can tell you whether the architect's feet are solidly on the ground of reality.

You are certainly welcome Dan. Had I known you were reading I wouldn't have slide my bit of plagarism into this forum, but you are right, Robert does come up with some nuggets, or is that nougat for chewing on. Chelone wonders what my question is and Andrew is searching for THE answer. "Hey mister, how will I find the Holy Grail?" "Keep looking, just keep looking"