Intelligence is a quality we can all admire, and one to aspire to. Whether we are speaking of the natural form, or what is gained through education, intelligence is one of the highest sought traits in our society. At least, it is for most of society.
Through history this has been the case. Plenty of well known figures have made their own comments on the power of the mind. Here are my five favorite quotes about it.
1. “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr.
A shocking number of schools now teach a set, basic curriculum thanks to limited funding and overcrowding within the US. This takes out a key element of the process that MLK was passionate about: teaching character. While you would hope a great deal of such lessons come from home, education should factor in both intelligence and character as they help train young people to deal with life. The way the education system has failed in this regard is one of the greatest tragedies in American history.
2. “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” Albert Einstein
Book smarts are good, but a more rounded intellectualism is better. Einstein understood the need to think for yourself, and to exercise the ability to look outside of convention. Not everything worth learning comes from a book, and not every opinion should have been placed on a page by someone else. This mentality is one of many reasons that Einstein was such a radical game changer in the world of academics, and why he was such a genius.
3. “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” Soren Kierkegaard
Anyone who has a Facebook account can really relate to this one. Similar to the quote about people who have the least to say speak the loudest, it draws the line between actual knowledge and just speaking. A shocking number of people think that they are entitled to an opinion, when really the rule should be that you are entitled to an informed one. If you have not thought out your view based on facts, it isn’t worth much. So why do so many people demand that right while ignoring the responsibility of wielding it?
4. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” Confucius
Everyone has more to learn in their life. You could live a thousand years and still have more to educate yourself about than could be done in another million. Information is always changing, new facts are coming to life, new people are being born who will achieve new things. To accept how little you really know in the scheme of things is an awareness that is much greater than the ego of those who think they know everything.
5. “I make mistakes like the next man. In fact, being – forgive me – rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger.” Albus Dumbledore
Yes, I know he isn’t real. But this is such a great quote that I had to include it. Anyone who is truly intelligent knows that they can make mistakes. Those who are the most intelligent might make bigger mistakes than others because they are venturing into much more dangerous territory. The character of Albus Dumbledore was one of great wisdom, who always seemed to know what was going on and how to run everything around him. He was cunning and manipulative, good but willing to sacrifice anything for the “greater good”. He mirrors many famous leaders of the past, and so this quote was always especially poignant. In other words, Dumbledore knows what’s up.
Intelligence is not a black and white concept. Many traits could be factored in to argue what does and doesn’t qualify. But these quotes above give us a certain look into what the greatest minds of the past believed, and can help us aspire to be greater ourselves.
What quotes to you love about intelligence? Let us know in the comments!