Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value.
—Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) English Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Academic
It is little that one gains by cleverness.
—Unknown
Unless one is a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.
—Anthony Hope (1863–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
Nature shows that with the growth of intelligence comes increased capacity for pain, and it is only with the highest degree of intelligence that suffering reaches its supreme point.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Intelligence is really a kind of taste: taste in ideas.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
You think you are clever until you find out how smart you are.
—Unknown
The best intelligence test is what we do with our leisure.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-Born American Author
You don’t need intelligence to have luck, but you do need luck to have intelligence.
—Yiddish Proverb
Intelligence appears to be the thing that enables a man to get along without education. Education enables a man to get along without the use of his intelligence.
—Albert Edward Wiggam (1871–1957) American Psychologist, Writer
I’ve never been an intellectual but I have this look.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Clever people seem not to feel the natural pleasure of bewilderment, and are always answering questions when the chief relish of a life is to go on asking them.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
Clever people are always the best conversations lexicon.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I’ve been called many things, but never an intellectual.
—Tallulah Bankhead (1902–68) American Actress
If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go in business because we’d be cynical: It’s gonna go wrong. Or She’s going to hurt me. Or, I’ve had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore … Well, that’s nonsense. You’re going to miss life. You’ve got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
I was street smart, but unfortunately the street was Rodeo Drive.
—Carrie Fisher (1956–2016) American Actress, Author
Reason is man’s instrument for arriving at the truth, intelligence is man’s instrument for manipulating the world more successfully; the former is essentially human, the latter belongs to the animal part of man.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Never be lucid, never state, if you would be regarded great.
—Dylan Thomas (1914–53) Welsh Poet, Author
The work of an intellectual is not to mould the political will of others; it is, through the analyses that he does in his own field, to re-examine evidence and assumptions, to shake up habitual ways of working and thinking, to dissipate conventional familiarities, to re-evaluate rules and institutions and to participate in the formation of a political will (where he has his role as citizen to play).
—Michel Foucault (1926–84) French Philosopher, Critic, Historian
Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
She was short on intellect, but long on shape.
—George Ade (1866–1944) American Humorist, Playwright
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
We should take care not to make the intellect our God; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Intelligence, in diapers, is invisible. And when it matures, out the window it flies. We have to pounce on it earlier.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
I think, therefore I am is the statement of an intellectual who underrates toothaches.
—Milan Kundera (1929–2023) Czech Novelist
Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.
—David Fasold (1939–98) American Ark Researcher, Captain
I hate intellectuals. They are from the top down. I am from the bottom up.
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American Architect
Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Whenever the cause of the people is entrusted to professors, it is lost.
—Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) Russian Revolutionary Leader
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