Genius is what you do with the mistakes.

Michael Moriarty (b. 1941) American-Canadian actor, musician

In Amy Wallace, “The Survivor,” New Yorker (26 Jan 2004)
    (Source)

Referring to his work with film producer Larry Cohen. Full quote: "It was skin-of-your-teeth filmmaking. Larry tends occasionally not to look ahead. But genius is what you do with the mistakes, and nobody was better with mistakes than Larry Cohen."