Saturday, September 26, 2009

Smartness and Intelligence



What is the difference between being smart and being intelligent?

Well, I speak with no authority, but here is what I think:

Smartness is knowing what is what, and understanding new things.
Intelligence is knowing what is what, finding links between old and new knowledge and applying it in real life situations, that is, having a cognitive mind.



For example, tomatoes. Fruit or vegetable?

Those that are smart will know that tomatoes are fruit.
Those that are intelligent will know that although tomatoes are fruit, it does not belong in fruit salads, they belong in salads. Some will also make links with another similar case, with the cucumber, technically a fruit, but still a green vegetable in our everyday minds.

However...

Those that are in a completely different level will know that what goes in the salad does not matter, as long as those that try it are happy about it. Someone likes tomatoes? So be it, throw some tomatoes in their fruit salads and watch them smile. Like apples? The chances are you will find some in your garden salad. We, as humans, are capable of making exceptions even with our superior knowledge and intelligence, knowing where things belong, and why. Being smart and being intelligent does not define a human to its core.

Creativity does.

-TheNorthStar


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