“A John Updike is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, if that generation is lucky: so comfortable in so many genres, the same lively, generous intelligence suffusing all he did.”
Intelligence comes in more flavors than IQ tests can measure. These quotes explore different kinds of smarts — emotional, creative, street, academic — and the humbling realization that the smartest people are usually the ones who know how much they do not know.
“An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”
“A John Updike is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, if that generation is lucky: so comfortable in so many genres, the same lively, generous intelligence suffusing all he did.”
“Be smarter than other people, just don't tell them so.”
“I'm an optimist in the sense that I believe humans are noble and honorable, and some of them are really smart. I have a very optimistic view of individuals.”
“There is no logical reason why the camel of great art should pass through the needle of mob intelligence.”
“I'm every bourgeois nightmare - a Cockney with intelligence and a million dollars.”
“The emotional brain responds to an event more quickly than the thinking brain.”
“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”
“In the aftermath of September 11, and as the 9/11 Commission report so aptly demonstrates, it is clear that our intelligence system is not working the way that it should.”
“Emotional intelligence begins to develop in the earliest years. All the small exchanges children have with their parents, teachers, and with each other carry emotional messages.”
“As a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, I will be participating in several hearings on the startling revelations contained in the report.”
“There is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence.”
“I've always felt, in all my books, that there's a deep decency in the American people and a native intelligence - providing they have the facts, providing they have the information.”
“I don't even call it violence when it's in self defense I call it intelligence.”
“The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read With loads of learned lumber in his head.”
“When I went on to write my next book, Working With Emotional Intelligence, I wanted to make a business case that the best performers were those people strong in these skills.”