AtomicQuote

Daniel Keyes Quote

Am I a genius? I don't think so. Not yet anyway. As Burt would put it, mocking the euphemisms of educational jargon, I'm exceptional-a democratic term used to avoid the damning labels of gifted and deprived (which used to mean bright and retarded) and as soon as exceptional begins to mean anything to anyone they'll change it. The idea seems to be: use an expression only as long as it doesn't mean anything to anybody. Exceptional refers to both ends of the spectrum, so all my life I've been exceptional.

Daniel Keyes

Am I a genius? I don't think so. Not yet anyway. As Burt would put it, mocking the euphemisms of educational jargon, I'm exceptional-a democratic term used to avoid the damning labels of gifted and deprived (which used to mean bright and retarded) and as soon as exceptional begins to mean anything to anyone they'll change it. The idea seems to be: use an expression only as long as it doesn't mean anything to anybody. Exceptional refers to both ends of the spectrum, so all my life I've been exceptional.

Tags: flowers for algernon

Related Quotes

But I've learned that intelligence alone doesn't mean a damned thing. Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there's one thing you've...

Daniel Keyes

But I've learned that intelligence alone doesn't mean a damned thing. Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there's one thing you've...

Tags: flowers for algernon, intelligence

All the barriers were gone. I had unwound the string she had given me, and found my way out of the labyrinth to where she was waiting. I loved her with more than my body.

Daniel Keyes

All the barriers were gone. I had unwound the string she had given me, and found my way out of the labyrinth to where she was waiting. I loved her with more than my body.

Tags: flowers for algernon

Just leave me alone. I'm not myself. I'm falling apart, and I don't want you here.

Daniel Keyes

Just leave me alone. I'm not myself. I'm falling apart, and I don't want you here.

Tags: flowers for algernon

I may not have all the time I thought I had...

Daniel Keyes

I may not have all the time I thought I had...

Tags: flowers for algernon

Strauss again brought up my need to speak and wrtie simply and directly so that people will understand me. He reminds me that language is sometimes a barrier instead of a pathway. Ironic to find mysel...

Daniel Keyes

Strauss again brought up my need to speak and wrtie simply and directly so that people will understand me. He reminds me that language is sometimes a barrier instead of a pathway. Ironic to find mysel...

Tags: flowers for algernon

Intelligence and education that hasn't been tempered by human affection isn't worth a damn.

Daniel Keyes

Intelligence and education that hasn't been tempered by human affection isn't worth a damn.

Tags: affection, education, flowers for algernon, intelligence

Because I want to see. I've got to know what's going to happen while I'm still enough in control to be able to do something about it.

Daniel Keyes

Because I want to see. I've got to know what's going to happen while I'm still enough in control to be able to do something about it.

Tags: flowers for algernon

Here look at me. I'm Charlie, the son you wrote off the books? Not that I blame you for it, but here I am, all fixed up better than ever. Test me. Ask me questions. I speak twenty languages, living an...

Daniel Keyes

Here look at me. I'm Charlie, the son you wrote off the books? Not that I blame you for it, but here I am, all fixed up better than ever. Test me. Ask me questions. I speak twenty languages, living an...

Tags: flowers for algernon

No, you don't understand because it isn't happening to you, and no one can understand but me. I don't blame you. You've got your job to do, and your Ph.D. to get, and-oh, yes don't tell me, I know you...

Daniel Keyes

No, you don't understand because it isn't happening to you, and no one can understand but me. I don't blame you. You've got your job to do, and your Ph.D. to get, and-oh, yes don't tell me, I know you...

Tags: flowers for algernon

Downhill. Thoughts of suicide to stop it all now while I am still in control and aware of the world around me. But then I think of Charlie waiting at the window. His life is not mine to throw away. I'...

Daniel Keyes

Downhill. Thoughts of suicide to stop it all now while I am still in control and aware of the world around me. But then I think of Charlie waiting at the window. His life is not mine to throw away. I'...

Tags: flowers for algernon
About Daniel Keyes

Daniel Keyes (August 9, 1927 – June 15, 2014) was an American writer who wrote the novel Flowers for Algernon. Keyes was given the Author Emeritus honor by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2000.