Learning and personal development
It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.
— Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), Little Women (1868), Ch. 22 : Artistic Attempts

Learning and personal development

What it means

Talent and genius are easily confused, especially by the ambitious. Alcott suggests it takes time and experience to tell them apart.

About the author

Louisa May Alcott — American novelist (1832–1888).

Source and verification

Source
Little Women (1868), Ch. 22 : Artistic Attempts
Reference
Louisa May Alcott on Wikiquote
Checked
Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright
Public domain: the author died in 1888.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

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