What is Intelligence?
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information and to retain it as knowledge to be applied toward adaptive behaviors within an environment or context.
Intelligence is most often studied in humans but has also been observed in both non-human animals and plants despite controversy as to whether some of these forms of life exhibit intelligence. Intelligence in computers or other machines is called artificial intelligence.

βIntelligence Quotesβ
- βI am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.β
- βI did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.β
- βThe man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.β
- βThe measure of intelligence is the ability to change.β
- βYou might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.β
- βWhatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.β
- βPeople demand freedom of speech as compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.β
- βYou are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.β
- βYour assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.β
- βAs long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking.β
- βIt takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.β
- βA good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.β
- βA thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions–as attempts to find out something.β Success and failure are for him answers above all.β
- βThe pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.β
- βI’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.β
- βIf we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.β
- βAll truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.β
- βIt is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.β
- βI not only use all the brains that I have but all I can borrow.β
- βBe less curious about people and more curious about ideas.β
- βI make mistakes like the next man. In fact, being–forgive me–rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger.β
- βReason is intelligence-taking exercise.β Imagination is intelligence with an erection.β
- βBelief is the death of intelligence.β
- βHe had just about enough intelligence to open his mouth when he wanted to eat, but certainly no more.β
- βIt is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.β
- βThe intelligence of that creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it.
- βMary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.β
- βI’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of willβ.
- βIntelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.β
- βRich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.β
- βBeauty fades, dumb is forever.β
- βA great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
- βInterpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art.
- βNature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need for change.β
- βEleanor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.β
- βI would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.β
- βIntelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage.β
- βThe advancement of science and the diffusion of information [is] the best aliment to true liberty.β
- βI can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am.β
- βIt is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word.β
- βEvery now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.β
- βMilitary intelligence is a contradiction in terms.
- βThe test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.β
- βI have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.β
- βPeople who boast about their I.Q. are losers.β
- βI imagine that the intelligent people are the ones so intelligent that they don’t even need or want to look ‘intelligent’ anymore.β
- βI think a lot of psychopaths are just geniuses who drove so fast that they lost control.β
- βControversial’ as we all know, is often a euphemism for ‘interesting and intelligent.β
- βMadness is the acme of intelligence.β
- βWhat I learned on my own I still remember
- βThe weak are dominated by their ego, the wise dominate their ego, and the intelligent are in a constant struggle against their ego.β
- βMan is a genius when he is dreaming.β
- βYou put too much stock in human intelligence, it doesn’t annihilate human nature.β
- βI don’t fancy colors of the face; I’m always attracted to colors of the brain.β
- βI think I only appear smart by staying quiet as often as possible.β
- βScience is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding…β
- βIntelligence is not measured by how much you know, but by how much you have the capacity to learn.β
- βMany much-learned men have no intelligence.
- βWhy do I do anything?’ she says. ‘I’m educated enough to talk myself out of any plan. To deconstruct any fantasy. Explain away any goal. I’m so smart I can negate any dream.β
- βA learned fool is more a fool than an ignorant fool.β
- βI find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting. But it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously.β
- βIt has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.β
- βThey will envy you for your success, your wealth, for your intelligence, for your looks, for your status – but rarely for your wisdom.β
- βI couldn’t claim that I was smarter than sixty-five other guys–but the average of sixty-five other guys, certainly!β
- βGenius is the ability to independently arrive at and understand concepts that would normally have to be taught by another person.β
- βI much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.β
- βAlways be smarter than the people who hire you.β
- βThe inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: those with brains, but no religion, and those with religion, but no brains.β
- βAbsurdity is the ecstasy of intellectualism.β
- βA book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.β
- βThe powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.β
- βWhere all think alike, no one thinks very much.β
- βIf reason ruled the world would history even exist?β
- βThe man of thought who will not act is ineffective; the man of action who will not think is dangerous.β
- βThe moon is the reflection of your heart and moonlight is the twinkle of your love.β
- βIntelligent life on other planets? I’m not even sure there is on earth!β
- βThe intelligent desire self-control; children want candy.β
- βIntelligence is not a competition.β
- βIdeas and not battles mark the forward progress of mankind.β
- βA marriage of two independent and equally irritable intelligence seems to me reckless to the point of insanity.β
- βThe habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.β
- βBeing able to embrace contradictions is a sign of intelligence or insanity.β
- βEmotion often outwits intelligence, while intuition renders life surprisingly fluent and enjoyable.β
- βIntelligence is more important than strength that is why the earth is ruled by men and not by animals.β
- βMental acuity of any kind comes from solving problems yourself, not from being told how to solve them.β
- βI drink a cup of sunlight every morning to brighten myself.β
- βThe thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.β
- βNot stupid. Overly trusting, maybe, but that reflects on his lack of trustworthiness, not on your intelligence.β
- βA knavish speech sleeps in a fool’s ear.β
- βAn opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.β
- βNo matter how tiny you look, you can lead huge men if you have what the huge men don’t have.β
- βIntelligence minus purpose equals stupidity.β
- βIntelligence alone is not nearly enough when it comes to acting wisely.β
- βIntelligence entails a strong mind, but genius entails a heart of a lion in tune with a strong mind.β
- βArmed neutrality makes it much easier to detect hypocrisy.β
- βIn pursuit of happiness, smart people often end up dumping down themselves.β
- βStay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.β
- βImagination is but another name for super intelligence.β
- βHappiness will grow if you plant the seeds of love in the garden of hope with compassion and care
- βIn the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.β
- βThe role of genius is not to complicate the simple, but to simplify the complicated.β
- βWisdom is nothing more than confirmed imagination: just because one did not study for his exam does not mean that he should leave it blank.β
- βThe willingness to change oneβs mind in the light of new evidence is a sign of rationality, not weakness.β
- βThe best people are always the worst. They drive everyone mad by being so good at second-guessing everything bad.β
- βI am so clever that sometimes I donβt understand a single word of what I am saying.β
- βI did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.β
- βYou might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.β
- βIt is not that Iβm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.β
- βWhatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.β
- βThe measure of intelligence is the ability to change.β
- βYou are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.β
- βYour assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light wonβt come in.β
- βA good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.β
- βIt takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.β
- βA thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questionsβas attempts to find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all
- βIt is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.β
- βIf we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.β
- βThe ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.β
- βI not only use all the brains that I have but all I can borrow.β
- βBe less curious about people and more curious about ideas.β
- βHe had just about enough intelligence to open his mouth when he wanted to eat, but certainly no more.β
- βRich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.β
- βThe intelligence of that creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it.β
- βIβm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.β
- βI donβt know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesnβt make you happy.β
- βIntelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.β
- βEducation is no substitute for intelligence.β
- βCrazy people are considered mad by the rest of society only because their intelligence isnβt understood.β
- βCreativity is intelligence having fun.β
- βIntelligence is the quickness in seeing things as they are.β
- βClear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence.β
- βAction is the real measure of intelligence.β
- βThe intellect is not a serious thing, and never has been. It is an instrument on which one plays, that is all.β
- βWe need only travel enough to give our intellects an airing.β
- βIt is the mind that makes the body rich; and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honor peered in the meanest habit.β
- βAn intellectual is someone whose mind watches it.β
- βAn intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.β
- βFor all things difficult to acquire, the intelligent man works with perseverance.β
- βHe who knows best knows how little he knows.β
- βI cannot believe that God plays dice with the cosmos.β
- βI don’t consider myself an intellectual. And this is not one of my aims. But I admire intellectual people.β
- βIt is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics.β
- βIt’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.β
- βRespond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.β
- βScience has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of intelligence.β
- βThe human mind has first to construct forms, independently, before we can find them in things.β
- βThe true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.β
- βThere are no great limits to growth because there are no limits to human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.β
- βThere is no method but to be very intelligent.β
- βTo perceive things in the germ is intelligenceβ
- βI’m going to, not I’m going to. Talk intelligently.β
- βOne definition of man is ”an intelligence served by organs.β
- βIntellect annuls Fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.β
- βWe lie in the lap of immense intelligence.β
- βIf a man’s eye is on the Eternal, his intellect will grow.β
- βA sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.β
- βAn intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.β
- βCharacter is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.β
- βGenius always finds itself a century too early.β
- βI don’t think the intelligence reports are all that hot. Some days I get more out of the New York Times.β
- βI’m not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues.β
- βIt’s a poor sort of memory that only works backward.β
- βMan is the most intelligent of the animals – and the silliest.β
- βThe mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.β
- βThe test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.β
- βYou don’t need intelligence to have luck, but you do need luck to have intelligence.β
- βIt’s good to be clever, but not to show it.β
- βAdvice others not what you can’t advice yourself.β
- βGreat minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.β
- βThe difference between intelligence and education is this: intelligence will make you a good living.β
- βIntelligence is not to make any mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.β
- βBe smarter than other people, just don’t tell them so.β
- βIt is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.β
- βPerfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.β
- βWhat we learn with pleasure we never forget.β
- βGenius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.β
- βKnowledge is power. Information is liberating.
- βEducation is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.
- βReal knowledge is to know the extent of oneβs ignorance.β
- βNever argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.β
- βThe man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.β
- βGo to bed smarter than when you woke up.β
- βLike a flower, be soft, loving, kind, and beautiful, but never lose the courage to bloom.β
- βIt is never too late to begin again. It is never too late to change and live again.β
- βDickey was intelligent but he ended up selling tea because he was socially retarded.β
- βLearn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someoneβs life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.β
- βFollow your heart, listen to your inner voice, and stop caring about what others think.β
- βI know youβre clever, but do you really think youβre going to outsmart the ocean?β
- βIndependent inquiry is need in your search for truth, not dependence on anyone elseβs view or a mere bookβ
- βConfusing religion with spirituality is like confusing education with intelligence.β
- βThe definition of ‘murky intelligence’ is murkier intelligence.β
- βIn the word question, there is a beautiful word-quest. I love that word.β
- βIntelligence is to be sweet inside and out always while ensuring success.β
- βWhen you are empowered by facts, you are no longer limited by opinions.β
- βThough a man is wise and intelligent, he is a fool in the eyes of the ignorant.β
- βListen to the fool’s reproach! It is a kingly title!β
- βIntelligent people have a strong objection to things that mean nothing at all.β
- βIntelligence may not be as loud as ignorance, but it can be heard more clearly and is far more effective.
- βIf common sense is so rare, isn’t it ‘common sense’ to start calling it rare sense?β
- βDebate, just not to show your intelligence, but to find out a better solution.β
Share your Favorites short quotes in comments:
I hope you enjoyed my collection of short quotes and captions! Iβm certain you discovered something you enjoyed however in the event that there is a truly wonderful short quote I missed if itβs not too much trouble; try to share it below in the comments! We should attempt to make this post an ultimate collection of short quotes on the Internet.