A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.

Mark Twain, the great observer of human folly and genius alike, once declared: “A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.” In this sentence lies a truth that spans centuries: that society mocks what it does not yet understand, and ridicules the visionary until his vision proves undeniable. The new idea is always a threat to the comfortable and the familiar, and so the one who carries it is often dismissed as foolish, mad, or dangerous. Yet when time vindicates the dream, the so-called “crank” is suddenly hailed as a prophet.

The power of Twain’s words rests in his recognition of human nature. Men and women fear change; they cling to old ways and old comforts. Thus, the innovator is rarely welcomed. He is laughed at, resisted, even persecuted. Yet history tells us that nearly every great advance—be it in science, art, or morality—was first dismissed as absurd. The success of the idea is what transforms its bearer from outcast to hero. What was once mocked becomes admired, and what was once condemned becomes canon.

Think of Galileo Galilei. When he peered through his telescope and declared that the Earth revolved around the sun, the authorities branded him a heretic, a crank who dared to question the wisdom of centuries. He was silenced, threatened, and confined. And yet, centuries later, his “crank” idea is not only accepted but foundational to human understanding of the cosmos. Twain’s words shine in this tale: Galileo was mocked until time proved him right, and then his name was written in the stars.

Or consider the Wright brothers. When they first spoke of building a machine that could fly, many laughed at them. Learned men declared that heavier-than-air flight was impossible. Newspapers mocked them. But when they lifted their fragile craft at Kitty Hawk and soared above the sands, the world’s laughter turned to awe. What was once madness became miracle, and the “cranks” became pioneers of a new age. Their story is the very embodiment of Twain’s wisdom.

Even in the world of art and literature, this pattern holds true. Vincent van Gogh, whose paintings now hang in the greatest museums of the world, sold almost nothing in his lifetime. He was regarded as unstable, eccentric, perhaps even deranged. Yet his brush captured truths that others could not see. Today, his works are priceless, and his vision has shaped generations of artists. The crank has become immortal.

The lesson is clear: do not fear the title of “crank.” If your idea is born of truth, if it carries the fire of conviction, then let the laughter of others be the drumbeat to your courage. Do not abandon your vision because it is misunderstood. For every voice that mocks may one day become a voice that praises, once your idea finds its proof in the world.

So, O seekers of tomorrow, take Twain’s words into your heart. If you carry a vision that others cannot yet see, do not be discouraged by their scorn. Stand firm, labor faithfully, and trust that time will reveal the worth of your idea. Remember Galileo, the Wright brothers, Van Gogh, and countless others whose madness was only genius not yet recognized.

Thus remember always: every new idea is a seed. At first it looks like nothing, and the world calls it folly. But when it blossoms, it transforms fields, nations, and even ages. Therefore, embrace the name of “crank” if you must—better to be a crank today and a visionary tomorrow than to surrender your idea and vanish into mediocrity.