As much as it would make the world easier to understand, things like career success and advanced degrees don’t always actually mean someone is intelligent. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to identify someone’s mental abilities.
We’ve collected interesting and sometimes subtle examples of signs that someone is actually super smart from across the internet, from the ability to communicate with anyone to a superhuman skill at grasping new concepts. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts in the comments section down below.
#21
They think constantly.
You can tell from the way they bring something up everyone has missed, have an eureka moment and so on.
You can tell from the way they bring something up everyone has missed, have an eureka moment and so on.
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8points
#22
Their vocabulary.
When the other person has a different opinion about a subject with proper arguments.
When the other person has a different opinion about a subject with proper arguments.
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8points
#23
A type of eye contact during conversation. There is a certain look in a person's eyes when they engage you in conversation that instantly reveals how intelligent they are. Hard to describe, but definitely discernable.
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7points
#25
When they rise above. Example they say something is this way but the “smart” person is adamant to prove them wrong. They will say “oh maybe you are right” because it shows they don’t want to argue and waste their time on a halfwit.
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7points
#26
They see what others overlook. They possess unusually high-quality thoughts, recognize their own blind spots, and learn faster than expected. They absorb information quickly, adapt constantly, and understand situations at a deeper level.
A highly intelligent person can walk into a room, read the dynamics, identify what truly matters, and adjust their approach accordingly without needing recognition or showing everyone how much they understand.
A highly intelligent person can walk into a room, read the dynamics, identify what truly matters, and adjust their approach accordingly without needing recognition or showing everyone how much they understand.
6points
#27
Perceptive questions. They can get to the heart of an issue pretty quickly.
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6points
#28
If they can intuitively identify first principles. They might not even know that they’re doing it in the moment, but you can always tell from their questions. These are natural systems thinkers and potential polymaths.
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5points
#29
I’ve found a correlation with intelligence and being able to understand more accents & odd ways of explaining something. Intelligent people are also naturally more cultured.
4points
#30
They try atleast to do things with good, kind and clever intent. High positive impact on structure/society/systems, atleast tries to. Often quite kind but no nonsense. Organized, understands what it is like being a beginner at something and learns how to get experience, uses past experiences to adapt in the present. Questions things.
3points
#31
They don't disagree with you and just nod. The only time you will hear their opinion is IF you ask them directly, and when you do, he puts in a lot of disclaimers before he states it. Normally they approach things structurally instead of normal logical progressive thought. They also often start with definitions.
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2points
#32
Book smart: when they can tell you for a long time about their favorite subjects in detail
Social smart: when they tell you what they like and ask what you like?
Street smart: when they say "who asking"
Smart people also have a higher chance of becoming crazy.
Social smart: when they tell you what they like and ask what you like?
Street smart: when they say "who asking"
Smart people also have a higher chance of becoming crazy.
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1point
#33
When they understand popular opinions are not always right.
Vote restore.
Vote restore.
0points
#34
They’re a nice person who isn’t passive aggressive when other people are wrong.
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0points