In their work at least, however, they were able far better than most people to rise above pettiness. Often, indeed, it was their high energy that passed in the minds of little people for egotism. Great scientists, again, have been clear and calm enough in themselves to be able to focus all their energy and attention on the tasks at hand. Most people lack this ability to concentrate. They haven t, therefore, that extra faculty of perception which is the final secret of genius.
Sensitive perception is a natural product of calm concentration.
Another word for it is intuition. Luther Burbank, the famous botanist, was so inwardly focused during his experiments with plants that his eyes would often remain half closed and half open, gazing inwardly as much as outwardly. Other botanists of his day challenged his findings on the basis that they hadn t been able to duplicate them. Yet the new botanical strains he produced sufficiently proved the reality of his discoveries. Burbank considered self-knowledge an essential part of the work he did with plants.