# Quotes about intelligence - Quotes: 160 - Authors: 93 - Broader topic: [Quotes about thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.json ## Quotes > "Life in all its forms is strife; the better matched the opponents, the harder the struggle. The most powerful of all weapons is intelligence; any intelligent form dominates by, and therefore survives by, its intelligence." [John Wyndham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham.md) · [The Kraken Wakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/the-kraken-wakes.md) · p. 336 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/the-kraken-wakes/life-in-all.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [survival](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/survival.md) > In our view, intelligence is about two fundamental types of work: the work of predicting the world, and the work of steering it. [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky.md) · [If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-anyone-builds-it-everyone-dies.md) · p. 20 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-anyone-builds-it-everyone-dies/in-our-view.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The more complicated the game board, the more advantage goes to the player with more knowledge and more intelligence and more understanding of the game. [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky.md) · [If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-anyone-builds-it-everyone-dies.md) · p. 99 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-anyone-builds-it-everyone-dies/the-more-complicated.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Now I know that speaking good English is not the measure of intelligent mind and sharp brain. English is only a language, like Yoruba and Igbo and Hausa. Nothing about it is so special, nothing about it makes anybody have sense. [Abi Dare](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare.md) · [The Girl with the Louding Voice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare/the-girl-with-the-louding-voice.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare/the-girl-with-the-louding-voice/now-i-know.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > A lifelong habit of being right also had the effect of diminishing one’s social appeal, especially among those who prefer to keep the bubble of their various illusions a safe distance from a needle-sharp and probing intelligence. [Matt Hughes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes.md) · [Majestrum](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/majestrum.md) · p. 76 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/majestrum/a-lifelong-habit.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md) > Men must be decent first and brilliant later, otherwise you’re not helping people, just servicing the machine. [Catherine Webb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/catherine-webb.md) · [The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August](https://www.leafyquotes.com/catherine-webb/the-first-fifteen-lives-of-harry-august.md) · p. 228 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/catherine-webb/the-first-fifteen-lives-of-harry-august/men-must-be-decent.md) Topics: [morality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/morality.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “You have to fight back. Can’t afford not to, with your intelligence. People hate intelligence, didn’t you know?” > > “Depends on what it does to ’em, doesn’t it?” > > “Not so much, Angelo. Dream up a new gadget, they’ll be grateful for a while,” said Feuermann’s voice. “It’ll be only the gadget they love, not the brain that made it—that they fear. They may have enough superstitious dread to worship it—devil-worship—but never will they respect it except superstitiously.” [Edgar Pangborn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-pangborn.md) · [A Mirror for Observers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-pangborn/a-mirror-for-observers.md) · p. 80 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-pangborn/a-mirror-for-observers/you-have-to-fight.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > In any basic struggle for power, the intellectual man went under. [George R. Stewart](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-r-stewart.md) · [Earth Abides](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-r-stewart/earth-abides.md) · p. 249 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-r-stewart/earth-abides/in-any-basic.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Those who had begun that experiment, so long ago, had not been men — or even remotely human. But they were flesh and blood, and when they looked out across the deeps of space, they had felt awe, and wonder, and loneliness. As soon as they possessed the power, they set forth for the stars. In their explorations, they encountered life in many forms, and watched the workings of evolution on a thousand worlds. They saw how often the first faint sparks of intelligence flickered and died in the cosmic night. And because, in all the galaxy, they had found nothing more precious than Mind, they encouraged its dawning everywhere. They became farmers in the fields of stars. [Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke.md) · [2001: A Space Odyssey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/2001-a-space-odyssey.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/2001-a-space-odyssey/those-who-had.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [the universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-universe.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “Are you smarter than me?” > > “I’ll answer that when you give me a working definition of intelligence.” [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [False Value](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/false-value.md) · p. 152 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/false-value/are-you-smarter.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “Peter,” said Tyburn. “I need you to stop just pretending to be clever and actually be clever.” [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [The Hanging Tree](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-hanging-tree.md) · p. 288 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-hanging-tree/peter-said-tyburn.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > I must say, you are the least unintelligent human I have ever met. [Django Wexler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/django-wexler.md) · [The Palace of Glass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/django-wexler/the-palace-of-glass.md) · p. 205 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/django-wexler/the-palace-of-glass/i-must-say.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > "Intelligent life is the only thing that gives meaning to the universe. It is a holy thing, to be fostered and treasured. > > Without it nothing begins, nothing ends, there can be nothing through all eternity but the mindless babblings of chaos . . . > > Therefore, the nurture of all intelligent forms is a sacred duty. Even the merest spark of reason must be fanned in the hope of a flame. Frustrated intelligence must have its bonds broken. Narrow-channelled intelligence must be given the power to widen out. High intelligence must be learned from." [John Wyndham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham.md) · [Chocky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/chocky.md) · p. 142 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/chocky/intelligent-life-is-the.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Intelligence is too subtle an attribute to be inferred from appearance. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [The Mind Pool](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-mind-pool.md) · p. 281 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-mind-pool/intelligence-is-too.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [appearance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearance.md) > “How did you do that?” > > The Hymenopt inclined her head. “With respect, Professor Lang, great intellectual power, even at the level you possess it, is not always a substitute for humble practical experience.” [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Convergence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/convergence.md) · p. 347 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/convergence/how-did-you.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [experience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/experience.md) > “Lop the top-end tail off the distribution of human intelligence and creativity,” he went on, “and it would make no measurable difference to the population. Only one person in a billion is out beyond the six-sigma level. That’s what we’re talking about here. But eventually those one-in-a-billion make a huge difference. Ninety-five percent of all human progress comes from less than one thousandth of one percent of the population.” [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Proteus in the Underworld](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/proteus-in-the-underworld.md) · p. 285 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/proteus-in-the-underworld/lop-the-top-end.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [genius](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/genius.md) > You just can’t tell. Brains won’t correlate with appearance. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [The Compleat McAndrew](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-compleat-mcandrew.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-compleat-mcandrew/you-just-cant.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [appearance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearance.md) > Smart is smart. I’m glad there’s some around somewhere. [Walter Tevis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis.md) · [Mockingbird](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird.md) · p. 8 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird/smart-is-smart.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > He thought, looking at the cat, if only you were the intelligent species on this world. And then, smiling wryly, maybe you are. [Walter Tevis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis.md) · [The Man Who Fell to Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/the-man-who-fell-to-earth.md) · p. 108 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/the-man-who-fell-to-earth/he-thought-looking.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [cats](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cats.md) > An animal doesn’t need to develop curiosity and intelligence if it has no problems that need solving. [Robert L. Forward](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward.md) · [Dragon's Egg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward/dragons-egg.md) · p. 7 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward/dragons-egg/an-animal-doesnt.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md), [curiosity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/curiosity.md) > They used their intelligence to control things around them, instead of letting nature and the strong-muscled have their way. [Robert L. Forward](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward.md) · [Dragon's Egg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward/dragons-egg.md) · p. 4 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-l-forward/dragons-egg/they-used-their.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Go out to the last few grains of sand, the smartest of the smartest of the smartest, times a thousand. It makes sense that people would be a little odd out here. But you really have to wonder why we all end up in jail. [Austin Grossman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman.md) · [Soon I Will be Invincible](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman/soon-i-will-be-invincible.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman/soon-i-will-be-invincible/go-out-to-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [genius](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/genius.md) > I'm the smartest man in the world. Once I wore a cape in public, and fought battles against men who could fly, who had metal skin, who could kill you with their eyes. I fought CoreFire to a standstill, and the Super Squadron, and the Champions. Now I have to shuffle through a cafeteria line with men who tried to pass bad checks. Now I have to wonder if there will be chocolate milk in the dispenser. And whether the smartest man in the world has done the smartest thing he could with his life. [Austin Grossman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman.md) · [Soon I Will be Invincible](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman/soon-i-will-be-invincible.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-grossman/soon-i-will-be-invincible/im-the-smartest.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [prison](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/prison.md) > Tesch seems to be someone who mistakes rudeness for intellectual rigor. [Emily St John Mandel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel.md) · [Station Eleven](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel/station-eleven.md) · p. 93 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel/station-eleven/tesch-seems-to-be-someone.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > We have all made mistakes. The mark of intelligence is to learn from them, and not be bound by the errors of the past. [Alastair Reynolds](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds.md) · [Poseidon's Wake](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/poseidons-wake.md) · p. 437 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/poseidons-wake/we-have-all.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [mistakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mistakes.md) > We have been clever, and on occasion we have been foolish. For smart monkeys, we can, when the mood takes us, be exceedingly stupid. But it was cleverness that brought us to this point, and it is only cleverness that will serve us from now on. > > We have no time for anything else. [Alastair Reynolds](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds.md) · [Blue Remembered Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/blue-remembered-earth.md) · p. 562 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/blue-remembered-earth/we-have-been.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “I don’t know.” That was typical Sajaki; like all the genuinely clever people Sylveste had met he knew better than to feign understanding where none existed. [Alastair Reynolds](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds.md) · [Revelation Space](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/revelation-space.md) · p. 357 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alastair-reynolds/revelation-space/i-dont-know.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Honor without intelligence is a disaster. Honor could lose the war. [Michael Shaara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara.md) · [The Killer Angels](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara/the-killer-angels.md) · p. 127 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara/the-killer-angels/honor-without-intelligence.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [honour](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honour.md) > “And someone that brilliant must be a devil?” queried Galt, dryly. > > “Not at all,” explained Donal, patiently. “But having such intellectual capabilities, a man must show proportionately greater inclinations toward either good or evil than lesser people. If he tends toward evil, he may mask it in himself—he may even mask its effect on the people with which he surrounds himself. But he has no way of producing the reflections of good which would ordinarily be reflected from his lieutenants and initiates—and which, if he was truly good—he would have no reason to try and hide. And by that lack, you can read him.” [Gordon R. Dickson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gordon-r-dickson.md) · [Dorsai!](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gordon-r-dickson/dorsai.md) · p. 386 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gordon-r-dickson/dorsai/and-someone-that.md) Topics: [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md), [kindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/kindness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/the-greater-intellect.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > There are then two kinds of intellect: the one able to penetrate acutely and deeply into the conclusions of given premises, and this is the precise intellect; the other able to comprehend a great number of premises without confusing them, and this is the mathematical intellect. The one has force and exactness, the other comprehension. Now the one quality can exist without the other; the intellect can be strong and narrow, and can also be comprehensive and weak. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/there-are-then.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Intelligence alone doesn't mean a damned thing. Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there's one thing you've all overlooked: intelligence and education that hasn't been tempered by human affection isn't worth a damn. [Daniel Keyes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes.md) · [Flowers For Algernon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes/flowers-for-algernon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes/flowers-for-algernon/intelligence-alone-doesnt.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Don't misunderstand me," I said. "Intelligence is one of the greatest human gifts. But all too often a search for knowledge drives out the search for love. This is something else I've discovered for myself very recently. I present it to you as a hypothesis: Intelligence without the ability to give and receive affection leads to mental and moral breakdown, to neurosis, and possibly even psychosis. And I say that the mind absorbed in and involved in itself as a self-centered end, to the exclusion of human relationships, can only lead to violence and pain. [Daniel Keyes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes.md) · [Flowers For Algernon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes/flowers-for-algernon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-keyes/flowers-for-algernon/dont-misunderstand-me-i-said.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Emotional Intelligence' refers to the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships. It describes abilities distinct from, but complementary to, academic intelligence, the purely cognitive capacities measured by IQ. [Daniel Goleman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-goleman.md) · [Working with Emotional Intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-goleman/working-with-emotional-intelligence.md) · p. 317 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-goleman/working-with-emotional-intelligence/emotional-intelligence-refers.md) Topics: [emotions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emotions.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > His wits were coming back to him, however slowly. That was good. His wits were all he had. [George RR Martin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin.md) · [A Clash of Kings](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-clash-of-kings.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-clash-of-kings/his-wits-were.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever and another to be wise. [George RR Martin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin.md) · [A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-game-of-thrones-the-illustrated-edition/he-was-always.md) Topics: [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > That one is so sharp he will cut himself. [Susan Cooper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper.md) · [Silver on the Tree](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper/silver-on-the-tree.md) · p. 98 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper/silver-on-the-tree/that-one-is-so-sharp.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “Machines!” the Clerk said scornfully. “We have many of them, some exquisitely complex. But event the best of them are much like idiot savants. They do adequately on tedious straightforward tasks like building stars or destroying planets. But give them something tough, like solacing a widow, and they simply go to pieces. Would you believe it, the largest computer in our section can landscape an entire planet; but it cannot fry an egg or carry a tune, and it knows less about ethics than a newborn wolf cub. Would you want something like that to run your life?” > > “Of course not,” Carmody said. “But couldn’t someone build a machine with creativity and judgment?” > > “Someone has,” the Clerk said. “It has been designed to learn from experience, which means that it must make errors in order to arrive at truths. It comes in many shapes and sizes, most of them quite portable. Its flaws are readily apparent, but seem to exist as necessary counterweights to it virtues. No one has yet improved on the basic design, though many have tried. This ingenious device is called ‘intelligent life.’” [Robert Sheckley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley.md) · [Dimension of Miracles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley/dimension-of-miracles.md) · p. 25 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley/dimension-of-miracles/machines-the-clerk.md) Topics: [technology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/technology.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [mistakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mistakes.md) > Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed. [Daniel Kahneman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman.md) · [Thinking, Fast and Slow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow.md) · p. 46 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-kahneman/thinking-fast-and-slow/intelligence-is-not.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > It appeared that the one area in which Sir Bob excelled was anxiety. He was marked out by his relentless ability to find fault with others’ mediocrity—suggesting that a certain kind of intelligence may at heart be nothing more or less than a superior capacity for dissatisfaction. [Alain de Botton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton.md) · [The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work.md) · p. 284 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work/it-appeared-that.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > I began to feel how patronising it was of us to presume to judge their intelligence, as if ours was any kind of standard by which to measure. I tried to imagine instead how he saw us, but of course that’s almost impossible to do, because the assumption you end up making as you try to bridge the imaginative gap are, of course, your own, and the most misleading assumptions are the ones you don’t even know you’re making. [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Last Chance to See](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see.md) · p. 81 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see/i-began-to-feel.md) Topics: [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [prejudice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/prejudice.md) > "You think you're so smart" is never a compliment; the only thing worse than being smart is thinking that you are. [Laura Penny](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laura-penny.md) · [More Money Than Brains](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laura-penny/more-money-than-brains.md) · p. 4 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laura-penny/more-money-than-brains/you-think-youre.md) Topics: [pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Being smarter may help the understanding not only of one’s self-interest, but also how the lives of others can be strongly affected by one’s own actions. [Amartya Sen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amartya-sen.md) · [The Idea of Justice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amartya-sen/the-idea-of-justice.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amartya-sen/the-idea-of-justice/being-smarter-may.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md) > The truth was, I needed to impress them. I knew from my previous discussions with Ben that you needed money or brains to get into the University. The more of one you had, the less of the other you needed. [Patrick Rothfuss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss.md) · [The Name of the Wind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind.md) · p. 251 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind/the-truth-was.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Any student of mine must be able to defend his ideas against an attack. No matter how you spend your life, your wit will defend you more often than a sword. Keep it sharp! [Patrick Rothfuss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss.md) · [The Name of the Wind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind.md) · p. 290 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind/any-student-of-mine.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > What is there to say? Purely and simply this: When a bachelor of philosophy from Antilles refuses to apply for certification as a teacher on the ground of his color. I say that philosophy has never saved anyone. Wren one else strives and strains to prove to me that black men are as intelligent as white men, I say that intelligence has never saved anyone; and that is true, for, if philosophy and intelligence are invoked to proclaim the equality of men, they have also been employed to justify the extermination of men . [Frantz Fanon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frantz-fanon.md) · [Black Skin, White Masks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frantz-fanon/black-skin-white-masks.md) · p. 28 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frantz-fanon/black-skin-white-masks/what-is-there.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [philosophy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/philosophy.md), [racism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/racism.md) > That afternoon I came to understand that one of the deepest purposes of intellectual sophistication is to provide distance between us and our most disturbing personal truths and gnawing fears. [Richard Russo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-russo.md) · [Straight Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-russo/straight-man.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-russo/straight-man/that-afternoon-i-came.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > He grinned, then kissed her hand again. He seemed to think that sort of thing would eventually spark passion in her. When in truth, physical stimulation was so inferior to mental stimulation. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Rhythm of War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/rhythm-of-war.md) · p. 1079 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/rhythm-of-war/he-grinned-then.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Never apologize for being clever, Shallan. It sets a bad precedent. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [The Way of Kings](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/the-way-of-kings.md) · p. 460 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/the-way-of-kings/never-apologize-for.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Proof that one can be both intelligent and accept the intelligence of those who disagree with you? Why, I should think it would undermine the scholarly world in its entirety. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [The Way of Kings](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/the-way-of-kings.md) · p. 460 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/the-way-of-kings/proof-that-one.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [tolerance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/tolerance.md) > How can a man be so brilliant and so obtuse? [John Brunner](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner.md) · [Total Eclipse](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner/total-eclipse.md) · p. 69 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner/total-eclipse/how-can-a-man.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “I think,” Chad grunted, “that if he [Shalmaneser, the computer] really is intelligent nobody will recognise the fact. Because we aren’t.” [John Brunner](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner.md) · [Stand On Zanzibar](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner/stand-on-zanzibar.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-brunner/stand-on-zanzibar/i-think-chad.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Humans have lived alongside parrots for thousands of years, and only recently have they considered the possibility that we might be intelligent. > > I suppose I can’t blame them. We parrots used to think humans weren’t very bright. It’s hard to make sense of behavior that’s so different from your own. [Ted Chiang](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ted-chiang.md) · [Exhalation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ted-chiang/exhalation.md) · p. 233 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ted-chiang/exhalation/humans-have-lived.md) Topics: [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > His brightening mind brightened his features, and added spirit and nobility to their aspect. [Emily Brontë](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-bronte.md) · [Wuthering Heights](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-bronte/wuthering-heights.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-bronte/wuthering-heights/his-brightening-mind.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [appearance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearance.md) > Not that he was doing a good job of being sneaky. Isaac [Newton] was accustomed to being so much brighter than everyone else that he really had no idea of what others were or weren't capable of. So when he got it into his head to be tricky, he came up with tricks that would not deceive a dog. [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [Quicksilver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/quicksilver.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/quicksilver/not-that-he-was.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > "It's a wonderful thing to be clever, and you should never think otherwise, and you should never stop being that way. But what you learn, as you get older, is that there are a few billion other people in the world all trying to be clever at the same time, and whatever you do with your life will certainly be lost — swallowed up in the ocean — unless you are doing it along with like-minded people who will remember your contributions and carry them forward. That is why the world is divided into tribes." [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [The Diamond Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age/its-a-wonderful.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [community](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/community.md) > "You do these things not to serve your Queen but to serve your own nature, John Hackworth, and I understand your nature. For you cleverness is its own end, and once you have seen a clever way to do a thing, you must do it, as water finding a crack in a dike must pass through it and cover the land on the other side." [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [The Diamond Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age/you-do-these.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md) > The difference between stupid and intelligent people — and this is true whether or not they are well-educated — is that intelligent people can handle subtlety. They are not baffled by ambiguous or even contradictory situations — in fact, they expect them and are apt to become suspicious when things seem overly straightforward. [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [The Diamond Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age/the-difference-between.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Beauty is as tangible as blood, in a way. It is a separate, distinct force that inhabits the bodies of men and women. You must have noticed the vacuity that accompanies perfect beauty in so many women...the force so strong that it drives out all other forces and lives vampirishly at the expense of intelligence and goodness and conscience and all else. [C.L. Moore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cl-moore.md) · [Northwest of Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cl-moore/northwest-of-earth.md) · p. 64 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cl-moore/northwest-of-earth/beauty-is-as-tangible.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The human mind is highly intelligent. Yet its very intelligence is tainted by madness. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/the-human-mind.md) Topics: [madness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/madness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > A letter doesn’t communicate by words alone. A letter, just like a book, can be read by smelling it, touching it and fondling it. Thereby, intelligent folk will say, “Go on then, read what the letter tells you!” whereas the dullwitted will say, “Go on then, read what he’s written!” [Orhan Pamuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk.md) · [My Name Is Red](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red.md) · p. 37 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red/a-letter-doesnt.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > By reducing any quality to quantity, myth economizes intelligence: it understands reality more cheaply. [Roland Barthes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roland-barthes.md) · [Mythologies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roland-barthes/mythologies.md) · p. 153 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roland-barthes/mythologies/by-reducing-any.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [ideology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideology.md) > The duties of kingship among the anthropoids are not many or arduous. … But Tarzan tired of it, as he found that kingship meant the curtailment of his liberty. He longed for the little cabin and the sun-kissed sea — for the cool interior of the well-built house, and for the never-ending wonders of the many books. > > As he had grown older, he found that he had grown away from his people. Their interests and his were far removed. They had not kept pace with him, nor could they understand aught of the many strange and wonderful dreams that passed through the active brain of their human king. So limited was their vocabulary that Tarzan could not even talk with them of the many new truths, and the great fields of thought that his reading had opened up before his longing eyes, or make known ambitions which stirred his soul. > > Among the tribe he no longer had friends as of old. A little child may find companionship in many strange and simple creatures, but to a grown man there must be some semblance of equality in intellect as the basis for agreeable association. [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs.md) · [Tarzan of the Apes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs/tarzan-of-the-apes.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edgar-rice-burroughs/tarzan-of-the-apes/the-duties-of-kingship.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [friendship](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/friendship.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “The programmers have a saying, you know? ‘If we understand how we do it, it isn’t artificial intelligence anymore.’” [Charles Stross](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross.md) · [Rule 34](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/rule-34.md) · p. 177 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/rule-34/the-programmers-have.md) Topics: [technology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/technology.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Humans are just barely intelligent tool users; Darwinian evolutionary selection stopped when language and tool use converged, leaving the average hairy meme carrier sadly deficient in smarts. [Charles Stross](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross.md) · [Accelerando](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/accelerando.md) · p. 266 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/accelerando/humans-are-just.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md) > Intelligence and infinite knowledge were not, it seemed, compatible with stable human existence. [Charles Stross](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross.md) · [Singularity Sky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/singularity-sky.md) · p. 198 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/singularity-sky/intelligence-and-infinite.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Having to mix with dimwits is hideously boring. Great-Uncle Mycroft put it best when he said that for a genius this planet is excruciatingly dull, only made briefly more illuminating when another genius happens along. [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [The Woman Who Died a Lot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-woman-who-died-a-lot.md) · p. 60 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-woman-who-died-a-lot/having-to-mix.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [boredom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/boredom.md) > People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it. [Stephen King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king.md) · [Carrie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/carrie.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/carrie/people-dont-get.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [cruelty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cruelty.md) > The game of science can accurately be described as a never-ending insult to human intelligence. [João Magueijo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joao-magueijo.md) · [Faster Than The Speed Of Light](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joao-magueijo/faster-than-the-speed-of-light.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joao-magueijo/faster-than-the-speed-of-light/the-game-of-science.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > She has man’s brain—a brain that a man should have were he much gifted—and a woman’s heart. [Bram Stoker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bram-stoker.md) · [Dracula](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bram-stoker/dracula.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bram-stoker/dracula/she-has-mans.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Any woman who is sure of her own wits, is a match, at any time, for a man who is not sure of his own temper. [Wilkie Collins](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins.md) · [The Woman in White](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins/the-woman-in-white.md) · p. 224 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins/the-woman-in-white/any-woman-who.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [anger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/anger.md) > The surest way to smartness is through massive dumbness. [Kevin Kelly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly.md) · [New Rules for the New Economy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy/the-surest-way.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [paradox](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/paradox.md) > We can only get smart things from stupid things. [Kevin Kelly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly.md) · [Out Of Control](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/out-of-control.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/out-of-control/we-can-only.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [paradox](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/paradox.md) > “Half of being smart is knowing what you’re not smart at,” Jake said. “Plenty of folks reckon that ’cause they know something, they know everything. And that ain’t the way it works.” > > “I never said it was,” Goldman answered primly. > > “Yeah, I know,” Jake said. “You make one.” [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Settling Accounts: In at the Death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-in-at-the-death.md) · p. 50 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-in-at-the-death/half-of-being.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [humility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility.md) > The party and the CSA could get by without a lot of fellows who brought only fanaticism. Losing somebody with brains would have hurt much more. Brains were harder to come by. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [American Empire: The Victorious Opposition](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-the-victorious-opposition.md) · p. 256 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-the-victorious-opposition/the-party-and.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [fanaticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fanaticism.md) > Beauty didn’t last. Brains did. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [American Empire: Blood and Iron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron.md) · p. 418 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron/beauty-didnt-last.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “Has anyone ever told you, sir, that you may be too damn smart for your own good?” > > “A whole raft of people, Colonel Landis,” Morrell answered cheerfully. “Once or twice, they’ve even been right.” [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [The Great War: Breakthroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs.md) · p. 457 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs/has-anyone-ever.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > He was a pretty fair officer, no doubt about it, but he wasn’t as smart as he thought he was. > > Of course, when you got right down to it, who was? [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [The Great War: Walk in Hell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-walk-in-hell.md) · p. 20 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-walk-in-hell/he-was-a-pretty.md) Topics: [pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > In a purely oral culture, intelligence is often associated with aphoristic ingenuity, that is, the power to invent compact sayings of wide applicability. [Neil Postman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-postman.md) · [Amusing Ourselves to Death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-postman/amusing-ourselves-to-death.md) · p. 25 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-postman/amusing-ourselves-to-death/in-a-purely.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Cynicism is intellectual dandyism. [George Meredith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith.md) · [The Egoist](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith/the-egoist.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith/the-egoist/cynicism-is-intellectual.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [cynicism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cynicism.md) > It is the historic glory of the intellectual class of the West in modern times that, of all the classes which could be called in any sense privileged, it has shown the largest and most consistent concern for the well-being of the classes which lie below it in the social scale. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/it-is-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md) > Piety, then, needs a counterpoise, something to prevent it from being exercised in an excessively rigid way; and this it has, in most intellectual temperaments, in the quality I would call playfulness. We speak of the play of the mind; and certainly the intellectual relishes the play of the mind for its own sake, and finds in it one of the major values in life. What one thinks of here is the element of sheer delight in intellectual activity. Seen in this guise, intellect may be taken as the healthy animal spirits of the mind, which come into exercise when the surplus of mental energies is released from the tasks required for utility and mere survival. “Man is perfectly human,” said Schiller, “only when he plays.” And it is this awareness of an available surplus beyond the requirements of mere existence that his maxim conveys to us. Veblen spoke often of the intellectual faculty as “idle curiosity”—but this is a misnomer in so far as the curiosity of the playful mind is inordinately restless and active. This very restlessness and activity gives a distinctive cast to its view of truth and its discontent with dogmas. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 30 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/piety-then-needs.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [curiosity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/curiosity.md), [play](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/play.md) > Intellectualism, though by no means confined to doubters, is often the sole piety of the skeptic. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 28 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/intellectualism-though-by-no-means.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [skepticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/skepticism.md) > Anti-intellectualism … first got its strong grip on our ways of thinking because it was fostered by an evangelical religion that also purveyed many humane and democratic sentiments. It made its way into our politics because it became associated with our passion for equality. It has become formidable in our education partly because our educational beliefs are evangelically egalitarian. Hence, as far as possible, our anti-intellectualism must be excised from the benevolent impulses upon which it lives by constant and delicate acts of intellectual surgery which spare these impulses themselves. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 22 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/anti-intellectualism-first-got.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md), [equality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/equality.md) > The intellectual’s … playfulness, in its various manifestations, is likely to seem to most men a perverse luxury; in the United States the play of the mind is perhaps the only form of play that is not looked upon with the most tender indulgence. His piety is likely to seem nettlesome, if not actually dangerous. And neither quality is considered to contribute very much to the practical business of life. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 33 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/the-intellectuals-playfulness.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md) > An intellectual … lives for ideas—which means that he has a sense of dedication to the life of the mind which is very much like a religious commitment. This is not surprising, for in a very important way the role of the intellectual is inherited from the office of the cleric: it implies a special sense of the ultimate value in existence of the act of comprehension. Socrates, when he said that the unexamined life is not worth living, struck the essence of it. We can hear the voices of various intellectuals in history repeating their awareness of this feeling, in accents suitable to time, place and culture. “The proper function of the human race, taken in the aggregate,” wrote Dante in De Monarchia, “is to actualize continually the entire capacity possible to the intellect, primarily in speculation, then through its extension and for its sake, secondarily in action.” The noblest thing, and the closest possible to divinity, is thus the act of knowing. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 27 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/an-intellectual-lives.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [ideas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideas.md) > The professional man lives off ideas, not for them. … He has acquired a stock of mental skills that are for sale. The skills are highly developed, but we do not think of him as being an intellectual if certain qualities are missing from his work—disinterested intelligence, generalizing power, free speculation, fresh observation, creative novelty, radical criticism. At home he may happen to be an intellectual, but at his job he is a hired mental technician who uses his mind for the pursuit of externally determined ends. It is this element—the fact that ends are set from some interest or vantage point outside the intellectual process itself—which characterizes both the zealot, who lives obsessively for a single idea, and the mental technician, whose mind is used not for free speculation but for a salable end. The goal here is external and not self-determined, whereas the intellectual life has a certain spontaneous character and inner determination. It has also a peculiar poise of its own, which I believe is established by a balance between two basic qualities in the intellectual’s attitude toward ideas—qualities that may be designated as playfulness and piety. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 27 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/the-professional-man.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Anti-intellectualism … has been present in some form and degree in most societies; in one it takes the form of the administering of hemlock, in another of town-and-gown riots, in another of censorship and regimentation, in still another of Congressional investigations. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 20 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/anti-intellectualism-has-been.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [censorship](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/censorship.md) > Intellect is neither practical nor impractical; it is extra-practical. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 30 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/intellect-is-neither.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Intellect needs to be understood not as some kind of claim against the other human excellences for which a fatally high price has to be paid, but rather as a complement to them without which they cannot be fully consummated. [Richard Hofstadter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter.md) · [Anti-Intellectualism in American Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life.md) · p. 46 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-hofstadter/anti-intellectualism-in-american-life/intellect-needs-to-be-understood.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Once upon a time, when he was still an innocent child, he believed that cleverness was the only yardstick that mattered, that as long as he was clever enough he would attain everything he desired. Going to university put him in his place. The university showed him he was not the cleverest, not by a long chalk. — Chapter 8, page 65. [J. M. Coetzee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee.md) · [Youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/youth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/youth/once-upon-a-time.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [humility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility.md) > You asked for wisdom? Hear these words. Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one's own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Visitor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor.md) · p. 42 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor/you-asked-for.md) Topics: [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [ignorance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ignorance.md) > “It could be any way at all by the will of Aitun,” snapped Chiddy. Aitun lets everything happen that can happen! It is up to intelligence to select!” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Fresco](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-fresco.md) · p. 434 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-fresco/it-could-be-any.md) Topics: [god](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/god.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Conflict acting on intelligence creates imagination. Faced with conflict, creatures are forced to imagine what will happen, where the next threat will come from. If there has never been conflict, imagination never develops. Wits arise in answer to danger, to pain, to tragedy. No one ever got smarter eating easy apples. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 438 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/conflict-acting-on-intelligence.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The poor are like foxes: they need intelligence in order to survive. The rich, however, have power; they don’t need good sense. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Singer From The Sea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/singer-from-the-sea.md) · p. 48 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/singer-from-the-sea/the-poor-are.md) Topics: [wealth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wealth.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [poverty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poverty.md) > It is our minds and not any other attribute which gives us personhood and value. We share intelligence with other living things, and they are no less important than we. Even creatures without detectable intelligence have adapted themselves to play necessary roles. To make God in our image or we in God’s is blasphemy. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Raising The Stones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/raising-the-stones.md) · p. 155 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/raising-the-stones/it-is-our.md) Topics: [god](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/god.md), [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “I don’t have much confidence,” she said. “A lot of what I’ve been taught isn’t making sense.” > > “That’s the nature of teaching. Something happens, and intelligence first apprehends it, then makes up a rule about it, then tries to pass the rule along. Very small beings invariably operate in that way. However, by the time the information is passed on, new things are happening that the old rule doesn’t fit. Eventually intelligence learns to stop making rules and understand the flow.” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Grass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass.md) · p. 354 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass/i-dont-have.md) Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md), [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > There is nothing that comes closer to true humility than the intelligence. It is impossible to feel pride in one's intelligence at the moment when one really and truly exercises it. [Simone Weil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil.md) · [Simone Weil: An Anthology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology.md) · p. 35 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology/there-is-nothing.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [humility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility.md) > The eulogies of my intelligence are positively intended to evade the question "Is what she says true?" [Simone Weil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil.md) · [Simone Weil: An Anthology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology.md) · p. 2 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology/the-eulogies-of-my-intelligence.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > If a captive mind is unaware of being in prison, it is living in error. If it has recognized the fact, even for the tenth of a second, and then quickly forgotten it in order to avoid suffering, it is living in falsehood. Men of the most brilliant intelligence can be born, live and die in error and falsehood. In them, intelligence is neither a good, nor even an asset. The difference between more or less intelligent men is like the difference between criminals condemned to life imprisonment in smaller or larger cells. The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like a condemned man who is proud of his large cell. [Simone Weil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil.md) · [Simone Weil: An Anthology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology.md) · p. 69 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology/if-a-captive.md) Topics: [pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception-2.md) > Intelligence is ongoing, individual adaptability. Adaptations that an intelligent species may make in a single generation, other species make over many generations of selective breeding and selective dying. Yet intelligence is demanding. If it is misdirected by accident or by intent, it can foster its own orgies of breeding and dying. [Octavia E. Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler.md) · [Parable of the Sower](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/parable-of-the-sower.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/parable-of-the-sower/intelligence-is-ongoing.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md) > Civilization is to groups what intelligence is to individuals. It is a means of combining the intelligence of many to achieve ongoing group adaptation. [Octavia E. Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler.md) · [Parable of the Sower](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/parable-of-the-sower.md) · p. 101 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/parable-of-the-sower/civilization-is-to-groups.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [civilization](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/civilization.md) > “Yes,” he said, “intelligence does enable you to deny facts you dislike. But your denial doesn’t matter. A cancer growing in someone’s body will go on growing in spite of denial. And a complex combination of genes that work together to make you intelligent as well as hierarchical will still handicap you whether you acknowledge it or not.” [Octavia E. Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler.md) · [Dawn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/dawn.md) · p. 39 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/octavia-e-butler/dawn/yes-he-said.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception-2.md) > They were the misfits of the world, the outcasts, for they deviated from the norm of humanity as established through all of history. Yet it was this very deviation which made them the hope of all mankind. Ordinary human beings—the kind of human beings who had brought the race this far—were not enough today. The ordinary humans had pushed the culture forward as far as they could push it. It had served its purpose; it had brought the ordinary human as far as he could go. Now the race evolved. Now new abilities had awoke and grown—exactly as the creatures of the Earth had evolved and specialized and then evolved again from that first moment when the first feeble spark of life had come into being in the seething chemical bath of a new and madcap planet. > > Twisted brains, the normal people called them; magic people, dwellers of the darkness—and could anyone say no to this? For each people set its standards for each generation and these standards and these norms were not set by any universal rule, by no all-encompassing yardstick, but by what amounted to majority agreement, with the choice arrived at through all the prejudice and bias, all the faulty thinking and the unstable logic to which all intelligence is prone. [Clifford D. Simak](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak.md) · [Time is the Simplest Thing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak/time-is-the-simplest-thing.md) · p. 233 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak/time-is-the-simplest-thing/they-were-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md) > If a person is intelligent, then of course he is either an agnostic or an atheist. Just as he is a physical coward. They are automatic definitions of high intelligence. [John Fowles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles.md) · [The Magus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles/the-magus.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles/the-magus/if-a-person.md) Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > It isn’t the Universe that’s following our logic, it’s we that are constructed in accordance with the logic of the Universe. And that gives what I might call a definition of intelligent life: something that reflects the basic structure of the Universe. [Fred Hoyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle.md) · [The Black Cloud](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle/the-black-cloud.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle/the-black-cloud/it-isnt-the.md) Topics: [the universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-universe.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Sir Timothy was a fluent speaker, and when there was nothing to be said was possessed of a great plenty of words. And he was gifted with that peculiar power which enables a man to have the last word in every encounter, — a power which we are apt to call repartee, which is in truth the readiness which comes from continual practice. You shall meet two men of whom you shall know the one to be endowed with the brilliancy of true genius, and the other to be possessed of but moderate parts, and shall find the former never able to hold his own against the latter. In a debate, the man of moderate parts will seem to be greater than the man of genius. But this skill of tongue, this glibness of speech is hardly an affair of intellect at all. It is, — as is style to the writer, — not the wares which he has to take to market, but the vehicle in which they may be carried. Of what avail to you is it to have filled granaries with corn if you cannot get your corn to the consumer? Now Sir Timothy was a great vehicle, but he had not in truth much corn to send. [Anthony Trollope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope.md) · [The Duke's Children](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-dukes-children.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-dukes-children/sir-timothy-was.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > I believe that intelligence and rationality will always be primary no matter what shape sentient creatures take. To not think that would be to doubt the value of life itself. [Peter F. Hamilton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton.md) · [Pandora's Star](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton/pandoras-star.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton/pandoras-star/i-believe-that.md) Topics: [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “I have this theory about smart people. If you’re smart, you’re either the only person in your family who’s smart, or everybody in the family is smart. No in-between.” > > I considered this. “I think I come from the everybody’s smart category. But they don’t apply their smarts to… larger picture pursuits. That includes me.” [Douglas Coupland](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland.md) · [JPod](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland/jpod.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland/jpod/i-have-this.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [family](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/family.md) > Hughes, who had entered the space program from astrophysics, came with a very good record, in fact a brilliant one. This troubled many of his military superiors, to whom high intelligence was a code word for instability and insubordination. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Wind’s Twelve Quarters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-winds-twelve-quarters.md) · p. 228 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-winds-twelve-quarters/hughes-who-had.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > It’s much easier to be incomprehensible than intelligent, and most people can’t spot the difference. [Max Barry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry.md) · [Syrup](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/syrup.md) · p. 22 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/syrup/its-much-easier.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Absolute brain size does not tell you everything — or possibly sometimes even much. Elephants and whales both have brains larger than ours, but you wouldn't have much trouble outwitting them in contract negotiations. [Bill Bryson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson.md) · [A Short History of Nearly Everything](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson/a-short-history-of-nearly-everything.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson/a-short-history-of-nearly-everything/absolute-brain-size.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > It startled him even more when just after he was awarded the Galactic Institute's Prize for Extreme Cleverness he got lynched by a rampaging mob of respectable physicists who had finally realized that the one thing they really couldn't stand was a smart-ass. [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/it-startled-him.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > "For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars, and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man... for precisely the same reasons." [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/for-instance-on-the.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > "But you say that money is made by the strong at the expense of the weak? What strength do you mean? It is not the strength of guns or muscles. Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think. Then is money made by the man who invents a motor at the expense of those who did not invent it? Is money made by the intelligent at the expense of the fools? By the able at the expense of the incompetent? By the ambitious at the expense of the lazy? Money is made—before it can be looted or mooched—made by the effort of every honest man, each to the extent of his ability. An honest man is one who knows that he can't consume more than he has produced." [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [Atlas Shrugged](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged.md) · p. 410 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged/but-you-say.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The “brightness” of the 15 percent might or might not indicate a profound feeling for the causes of things; it is largely verbal and symbol-manipulating, and is almost certainly partly an obsessional device not to know and touch risky matter, just as Freud long ago pointed out that the nagging questions of small children are a substitute for asking the forbidden questions. [Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 85 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/the-brightness-of-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > “Brilliant people never think of the lives they smash, being brilliant.” – Jack [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [White Noise](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise/brilliant-people-never.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Boldness governed by superior intellect is the mark of a hero. [Carl von Clausewitz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz.md) · [On War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/boldness-governed-by-superior.md) Topics: [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [heroism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/heroism.md) > Great things alone can make a great mind, and petty things will make a petty mind unless a man rejects them as completely alien. [Carl von Clausewitz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz.md) · [On War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/great-things-alone.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md) > He [Stone] often argued that human intelligence was more trouble than it was worth. It was more destructive than creative, more confusing than revealing, more discouraging than satisfying, more spiteful than charitable. [Michael Crichton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton.md) · [The Andromeda Strain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/the-andromeda-strain.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/the-andromeda-strain/he-stone-often.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Language does for intelligence what the wheel does for the feet and the body. It enables them to move from thing to thing with greater ease and speed and ever less involvement. (p. 113) [Marshall McLuhan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-mcluhan.md) · [Understanding Media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-mcluhan/understanding-media.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-mcluhan/understanding-media/language-does-for.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > People of intelligence often treat business in the way ignorant people treat books: they understand nothing. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/people-of-intelligence.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [business](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/business.md) > We are afraid of having and showing a small mind and we are not afraid of having and showing a small heart. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/we-are-afraid.md) Topics: [kindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/kindness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > The voice is an aid to intelligence. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/the-voice-is-an-aid.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md) > This is the law. The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplementary. [John Steinbeck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck.md) · [The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/the-acts-of-king-arthur-and-his-noble-knights.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/the-acts-of-king-arthur-and-his-noble-knights/this-is-the.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella. [John Steinbeck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck.md) · [Of Mice and Men](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/of-mice-and-men.md) · p. 41 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/of-mice-and-men/guy-dont-need.md) Topics: [kindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/kindness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > According to a recent study of the brains of identical and fraternal twins, differences in the amount of gray matter in the frontal lobes are not only genetically influenced but are significantly correlated with differences in intelligence. [Steven Pinker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker.md) · [The Blank Slate](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/the-blank-slate.md) · p. 44 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/the-blank-slate/according-to-a-recent.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Humans . . . entered the 'cognitive niche.' Remember the definition of intelligence from Chapter 2: using knowledge of how things work to attain goals in the face of obstacles. By learning which manipulations achieve which goals, humans have mastered the art of the surprise attack. They use novel, goal-oriented courses of action to overcome the Maginot Line defenses of other organisms, which can respond only over evolutionary time. The manipulations can be novel because human knowledge is not just couched in concrete instructions like 'how to catch a rabbit.' Humans analyze the world using intuitive theories of objects, forces, paths, places, manners, states, substances, hidden biochemical essences, and, for other animals and people, beliefs and desires. . . . People compose new knowledge and plans by mentally playing out combinatorial interactions among these laws in their mind's eye. [Steven Pinker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker.md) · [How the Mind Works](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/how-the-mind-works.md) · p. 188 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/how-the-mind-works/humans-entered-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md) > Intelligence, then, is the ability to attain goals in the face of obstacles by means of decisions based on rational (truth-obeying) rules. The computer scientists Allen Newell and Herbert Simon fleshed this idea out further by noting that intelligence consists of specifying a goal, assessing the current situation to see how it differs from the goal, and applying a set of operations that reduce the difference. Perhaps reassuringly, by this definition human beings, not just aliens, are intelligent. We have desires, and we pursue them using beliefs, which, when all goes well, are at least approximately or probabilistically true. [Steven Pinker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker.md) · [How the Mind Works](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/how-the-mind-works.md) · p. 62 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steven-pinker/how-the-mind-works/intelligence-then-is-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. [Nelson Mandela](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nelson-mandela.md) · [Long Walk to Freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nelson-mandela/long-walk-to-freedom.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nelson-mandela/long-walk-to-freedom/a-good-head.md) Topics: [kindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/kindness.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Is an intelligent human being likely to be much more than a large-scale manufacturer of misunderstanding? [Philip Roth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth.md) · [The Counterlife](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth/the-counterlife.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth/the-counterlife/is-an-intelligent.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Friday, brainpower is the scarcest commodity and the only one of real value. Any human organization can be rendered useless, impotent, a danger to itself, by selectively removing its best minds while carefully leaving the stupid ones in place. [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [Friday](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/friday.md) · p. 37 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/friday/friday-brainpower-is-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > What we think of as ‘Physical beauty’ is almost certainly a tag for a complex of useful survival characteristics. Smartness—intelligence—among them. [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [I Will Fear No Evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/i-will-fear-no-evil.md) · p. 35 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/i-will-fear-no-evil/what-we-think.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > ...no one of intelligence resents the inevitable. [Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke.md) · [Childhood's End](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/childhoods-end.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/childhoods-end/no-one-of-intelligence.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [acceptance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/acceptance.md) > “Intelligence” demands the most strict of definitions, since the word is easily and often abused. Intelligence rates the quality of Gaean man’s competence at altering environment to suit his convenience, or, more generally, the solution of problems. The corollaries to the idea are several. Among them: In the absence of problems, intelligence cannot be measured. A creature with a large, complicated brain is not necessarily intelligent. Raw abstract intelligence is a meaningless concept. [Jack Vance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance.md) · [The Book of Dreams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-book-of-dreams.md) · p. 383 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-book-of-dreams/intelligence-demands-the.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Intelligence consists in ignoring things that are irrelevant. [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [The Bed of Procrustes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes.md) · p. 78 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes/intelligence-consists-in-ignoring.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md) > Wit seduces by signaling intelligence without nerdiness. [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [The Bed of Procrustes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes.md) · p. 60 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes/wit-seduces-by-signaling.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > A complex mind. All great criminals have that. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-case-book-of-sherlock-holmes.md) · p. 987 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-case-book-of-sherlock-holmes/a-complex-mind.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [crime](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crime.md) > Perhaps, when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Return of Sherlock Holmes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-return-of-sherlock-holmes.md) · p. 642 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-return-of-sherlock-holmes/perhaps-when-a-man.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [simplicity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/simplicity.md) > The folly of the clever is always more than that of the dull. [Gore Vidal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal.md) · [Julian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/julian.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/julian/the-folly-of-the.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Education is no substitute for intelligence. That elusive quality is defined only in part by puzzle-solving ability. It is in the creation of new puzzles reflecting what your senses report that you round out the definitions. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Chapterhouse: Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune/education-is-no-substitute.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Intelligence takes chance with limited data in an arena where mistakes are not only possible but also necessary. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Chapterhouse: Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune/intelligence-takes-chance.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [mistakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mistakes.md) > General ideas are no proof of the strength, but rather of the insufficiency of the human intellect. [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville.md) · [Democracy in America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville/democracy-in-america.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville/democracy-in-america/general-ideas-are.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [ideas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideas.md) > It is not even clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value. [Stephen W. Hawking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking.md) · [Brief Answers to the Big Questions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking/brief-answers-to-the-big-questions.md) · p. 84 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking/brief-answers-to-the-big-questions/it-is-not.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [survival](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/survival.md) > It has certainly been true in the past that what we call intelligence and scientific discovery have conveyed a survival advantage. It is not so clear that this is still the case: our scientific discoveries may well destroy us all, and even if they don’t, a complete unified theory may not make much difference to our chances of survival. However, provided the universe has evolved in a regular way, we might expect that the reasoning abilities that natural selection has given us would be valid also in our search for a complete unified theory, and so would not lead us to the wrong conclusions. [Stephen W. Hawking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking.md) · [A Brief History of Time](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking/a-brief-history-of-time.md) · p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-w-hawking/a-brief-history-of-time/it-has-certainly.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [survival](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/survival.md) > Other things being equal, it is better to be smart than to be stupid. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Cosmos](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos.md) · p. 284 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos/other-things-being.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Both Barnum and H. L. Mencken are said to have made the depressing observation that no one ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the American public. The remark has worldwide application. But the lack is not in intelligence, which is in plentiful supply; rather, the scarce commodity is systematic training in critical thinking. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Broca's Brain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain.md) · p. 58 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain/both-barnum-and.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > To me it is not in the least demeaning that consciousness and intelligence are the result of “mere” matter sufficiently complexly arranged; on the contrary, it is an exalting tribute to the subtlety of matter and the laws of Nature. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Dragons of Eden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden.md) · p. 221 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden/to-me-it-is-not.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [consciousness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consciousness.md) > The entire evolutionary record on our planet, particularly the record contained in fossil endocasts, illustrates a progressive tendency toward intelligence. There is nothing mysterious about this: smart organisms by and large survive better and leave more offspring than stupid ones. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Dragons of Eden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden.md) · p. 240 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden/the-entire-evolutionary.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md) > Once intelligent beings achieve technology and the capacity for self-destruction of their species, the selective advantage of intelligence becomes more uncertain. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Dragons of Eden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden.md) · p. 240 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/dragons-of-eden/once-intelligent-beings.md) Topics: [technology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/technology.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [survival](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/survival.md) > The stupider one is, the closer one is to reality. The stupider one is, the clearer one is. Stupidity is brief and artless, while intelligence wriggles and hides itself. Intelligence is a knave, but stupidity is honest and straightforward. [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky.md) · [The Brothers Karamazov](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-brothers-karamazov.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-brothers-karamazov/the-stupider-one.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on Earth. [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky.md) · [Crime And Punishment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/crime-and-punishment.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/crime-and-punishment/pain-and-suffering.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [sadness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sadness.md) > “Plants,” said he, "show no sign of interesting themselves in human affairs. We shall never get a rose to understand that five times seven are thirty-five, and there is no use in talking to an oak about fluctuations in the price of stocks. Hence we say that the oak and the rose are unintelligent, and on finding that they do not understand our business conclude that they do not understand their own. But what can a creature who talks in this way know about intelligence? Which shows greater signs of intelligence? He, or the rose and oak? [Samuel Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler.md) · [Erewhon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler/erewhon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler/erewhon/plants-said-he-show.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [flowers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flowers.md) > Intelligence flourishes only in the ages when belief withers. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [A Short History of Decay](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay/intelligence-flourishes-only.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > Woman has more wit, man more genius; woman observes, man reasons; together they provide the clearest light and the profoundest knowledge which is possible to the unaided human mind; in a word, the surest knowledge of self and of others of which the human race is capable. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/woman-has-more.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [men](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/men.md) > The more intelligent a man is the more capable is he of suffering. [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [A Writer's Notebook](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/a-writers-notebook.md) · p. 19 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/a-writers-notebook/the-more-intelligent.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > A terrible thing is intelligence. It tends to death as memory tends to stability. The living, the absolutely unstable, the absolutely individual, is strictly unintelligible. Logic tends to reduce everything to identities and genera, to each representation having no more than one self-same content in whatever place, time or relation it may occur to us. And there is nothing that remains for two successive moments of its existence. My idea of God is different each time that I conceive it. Identity, which is death, is the goal of the intellect. The mind seeks what is dead, for what is living escapes it; it seeks to congeal the flowing stream in blocks of ice; it seeks to arrest it. In order to analyze a body it is necessary to extenuate or destroy it. In order to understand anything it is necessary to kill it, to lay it out rigid in the mind. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/a-terrible-thing.md) Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [logic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/logic.md) > Stupidity was as necessary as intelligence, and as difficult to attain. [George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md) · [Nineteen Eighty-Four](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/stupidity-was-as-necessary.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > It need hardly be said that the subtlest practitioners of DOUBLETHINK are those who invented DOUBLETHINK and know that it is a vast system of mental cheating. In our society, those who have the best knowledge of what is happening are also those who are furthest from seeing the world as it is. In general, the greater the understanding, the greater the delusion; the more intelligent, the less sane. [George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md) · [Nineteen Eighty-Four](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/it-need-hardly.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Eumenes showed little taste for elaborate protocols; he was far too intelligent for that. [Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke.md) · [Time's Eye](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/times-eye.md) · p. 255 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/times-eye/eumenes-showed-little.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [good manners](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/good-manners.md)