"Since when was genius found respectable?"

This quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a commentary on the disrespect for genius in society. She is asking why genius is not viewed as decent, implying that it should be. She is recommending that society needs to acknowledge and appreciate genius, rather than dismissing it or looking down on it. This quote talks to the idea that genius is typically viewed as strange or eccentric, which it is not constantly accepted or appreciated. It likewise speaks to the concept that genius is typically seen as a threat to the status quo, and is for that reason not seen as preferable. This quote is a suggestion that genius should be respected and celebrated, rather than dismissed or neglected. It is a call to recognize and appreciate the luster of genius, and to recognize its possible to make the world a better place.