31 “Small, Low-Key Signs” That A Person Is Really Intelligent

Steven, from the Omni Calculator project, which has created over 3,000 calculators that are openly available on their website, told Bored Panda that quantifying intelligence objectively isn't easy.

"The gold standard is the IQ test, but maybe a person that does very well on this measure would be ineffective in a real-world situation that does look like an IQ test question," he explained that it's not a perfect method.

"The other issue with the IQ test is that it gives you a score relative to the population, so it's not an absolute measure. Then there is emotional intelligence, which can make a person very effective in the world but is entirely missed by the conventional IQ test," he told us.

It's essential to stay humble and grounded throughout your life, no matter how high you might rise. Though it can be easy to forget that when you see success after success and you're constantly lauded for your skills.

Steven said that it's good to remember that "everyone makes mistakes—even the most intelligent people. And next time, it could be you."

"It's good to remember this if you're feeling very confident or you've rushed an answer to a question. Take a moment to double-check yourself," he noted that nobody is above making a mistake, eventually.

It's also important not to get frustrated that others might not have the very same knowledge base as you. "It can be very hard not to get frustrated. The best way is to assume the role of a teacher and help those around you learn what you know. Over time, the gap between you and them will narrow, reducing the cause of potential frustration."

Bored Panda was also interested to find out how much the Omni Calculator project itself has touched upon untangling intelligence. Though they currently don't have anything that calculates your intelligence directly, they do have the IQ Percentile Calculator and the Happiness Calculator.

"Quantifying smartness is difficult. Omni Calculator has the IQ Percentile Calculator, which tells you what proportion of the population has a higher and lower IQ than you (requires your IQ score). Though we might be able to tell you how happy you are with our Happiness Calculator—it asks a few questions to see where you are on the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)."

Broadly speaking, intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. Quick thinking, perceptiveness, a good memory, adaptability, and the ability to embrace failure are all small parts of what makes someone smart. But reading a lot of books means nothing if you can’t or won’t apply that knowledge to whatever goals you have in mind.

Though intelligence is often celebrated (and, frankly, it’s something that humankind should aspire to as a whole), its impact is vastly overestimated in some instances. For instance, when it comes to financial stability. Or, as Bloomberg puts it: “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?” Viewing intelligence only through the lens of IQ is very limiting. And correlates very little with real-life success.

Economist James Heckman’s research indicates that IQ isn’t all that important when it comes to one’s financial prospects. Instead, one’s personality is key. Traits like conscientiousness, diligence, perseverance, and self-discipline are vastly more important.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg writes that Heckman’s study found that good grades and achievement-test results predicted adult success far better than raw IQ scores. Grades are an expression of intelligence, as well as non-cognitive skills, such as good study habits or a student’s ability to collaborate with others. In short, personality is vital when it comes to success.

Look, Pandas, if we’re being completely honest here, I see myself as a pretty darn intelligent guy. I know I’m smart… and I work hard at it.

However, I’m also aware that this advantage is balanced out by my lack of common sense, the overwhelming propensity to daydream instead of taking action, and my idealistic naivety. I also sometimes forget to press the ‘Sarcasm’ button in my mind before speaking.

(In geek-speak, if this were Dungeons & Dragons, my Wisdom ability score would be negative, and I’d have a wildly fluctuating Charisma stat.) I know my strengths. But I’m also painfully aware of where I still need to grow.

Generally speaking, this is where the Dunning-Kruger effect kicks in. The short version is that most people believe that their intelligence is above average. Obviously, mathematically, this can’t be the case because that would just change the collective average.

The long version is that someone who (objectively) has very low skills or knowledge in a particular area believes that they are far better than they actually are. It’s a mix of arrogance and overestimating one’s competence.

However, interestingly, the Dunning-Kruger effect also applies to those who excel in their chosen area of expertise. These brainiacs may believe that the knowledge that they have is easy for others to understand or that a particular task is not all that difficult. They also tend to underestimate their own skills.

It’s not enough to be brilliantly smart if you’re unable to maintain it all. Having a good diet, getting plenty of exercise, staying curious, and maintaining strong social ties are all factors that help you stay sharp as you age. Taking care of yourself is the intelligent thing to do.