An intelligence test sometimes shows a man how smart he would have been not to have taken it.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
My great religion is a belief in the blood, the flesh, as being wiser than the intellect. We can go wrong in our minds. But what our blood feels and believes and says, is always true. The intellect is only a bit and a bridle.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A superior and commanding intellect, a truly great man-when Heaven vouchsafes so rare a gift-is not a temporary flame, burning for a while, and then expiring, giving place to eternal darkness. It is rather a spark of fervent heat, as well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of human mind; so that, when it glimmers in its own decay, and finally goes out in death, no night follows; but it leaves the world all light, all on fire, from the potent contact of its own spirit.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Tact is the intelligence of the heart.
—Unknown
I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Your intelligence is measured by those around you; if you spend your days with idiots you seal your own fate.
—Unknown
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
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
I don’t think there’s anything unique about human intelligence. All the neurons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a binary fashion. We can someday replicate that on a machine. Earthly life is carbon based and computers are
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
God multiplies intelligence, which communicates itself like fire, infinitely.—Light a thousand torches at one torch, and the flame of the latter remains the same.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Some men of a secluded and studious life have sent forth from their closet or cloister rays of intellectual light that have agitated courts and revolutionized kingdoms; like the moon which, though far removed from the ocean and shining upon it with a serene and sober light, is the chief cause of all those ebbings and flowings which incessantly disturb that restless world of waters.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
In the great mass of our people there are plenty individuals of intelligence from among whom leadership can be recruited.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
I hate intellectuals. They are from the top down. I am from the bottom up.
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American Architect
He is far too intelligent to become really cerebral.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
Clever people are always the best conversations lexicon.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
This administration misled a nation into war by cherry-picking intelligence and stretching the truth beyond recognition.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Politician, Diplomat
On artificial intelligence: the real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
—B. F. Skinner (1904–90) American Psychologist, Social Philosopher, Inventor, Author
Man has made use of his intelligence, he invented stupidity.
—Remy de Gourmont (1858–1915) French Critic, Novelist
To perceive things in the germ is intelligence
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Intellectual blemishes, like facial ones, grow more prominent with age.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Intelligence and courtesy not always are combined; Often in a wooden house a golden room we find.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Fear is what prevents the flowering of the mind.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian Philosopher
All human knowledge takes the form of interpretation.
—Walter Benjamin
The march of intellect is proceeding at quick time; and if its progress be not accompanied by a corresponding improvement in morals and religion, the faster it proceeds, with the more violence will you be hurried down the road to ruin.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
The intellect is always fooled by the heart.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn’t betray it I’d be ashamed of myself.
—Noam Chomsky (b.1928) American Linguist, Social Critic