“One measure of genius is the ability to see alternatives.”

Simplified Meaning:

People who are really smart can think of different ways to solve a problem or see things from many points of view. Imagine you are trying to finish a puzzle, and you only think there's one way to do it. A genius, however, would look at the puzzle and come up with many different ways to put the pieces together. For example, in history, when Thomas Edison was inventing the light bulb, he tried many different materials for the filament until he found the right one. Rather than giving up when something didn’t work, he kept thinking of new possibilities and alternatives. In everyday life, if you're having a disagreement with a friend, rather than sticking to one solution, you can try to understand their perspective and find a different way to solve the problem that works for both of you. Thinking of alternatives helps you become better at solving problems and can lead to new, creative solutions you might not have initially considered.