“Genius” (which means transcendent capacity of taking trouble, first of all).
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
History of Friedrich II of Prussia, called Frederick the Great, Book 4, ch. 3 (1858–1865)
(Source)
Usually misquoted as "Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains," which is sometimes misattributed to Samuel Johnson.
See Doyle (1886).
See also more discussion here about the quote.
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“They say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains,” he [Holmes] remarked with a smile. “It’s a very bad definition, but it does apply to detective work.”
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 1, ch. 3, Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)
(Source)
Published in novel form 1888-07.
The quote Holmes refers to is usually attributed to Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle, but is a misquote of what he says on the subject. Interestingly, Holmes, in the same story, earlier claims not to know Carlyle's works, though he here supposedly quotes him.
