Smart people are often funny, their handwriting is often bad, and they are often messier than average. They are prone to not hear you when you talk to them, even if they’re looking right at you. (They were thinking of something else and didn’t realize they needed to be listening.)
Smart people are not necessarily rich. They might have higher than average ability to become rich if that is their focus, but they are likely to value ideas over money and possessions.
There is probably a link between intelligence and creativity, but there are different types of intelligence, so not all smart people will be creative. Probably all creative people, though, possess some type of above average intelligence.
Smart people aren’t just defined by their outrageously high scores on IQ tests.
They tend to share a bunch of other characteristics, like insatiable curiosity and a good sense of humor.
The smartest folks are able to admit when they aren’t familiar with a particular concept. They are not afraid to say: ‘I don’t know.’ If they don’t know it, they can learn it. This observation is backed up by a classic study which found that the less intelligent you are, the more you overestimate your cognitive abilities.
Intelligent people let themselves become fascinated by things others take for granted.
Scientists followed thousands of people at their 50s and learned that 11-year-olds who’d scored higher on an IQ test turned out to be more open to experience at 50. Because they’re so curious, smart people are also inclined to be voracious readers. Indeed, many of the world’s most successful people, Bill Gates and Oprah, among them, say they educate themselves by reading anything they can get their hands on.
Smart people don’t close themselves off to new ideas or opportunities. They are willing to accept and consider other views with value and broad-mindedness, and are open to alternative solutions.
At the same time, smart people are careful about which ideas and perspectives they adopt.
An intelligent mind has a strong aversion to accepting things on face value and therefore withholds belief until presented with ample evidence. The researchers behind that study say that one area of the brain, the anterior prefrontal cortex, might play a role in helping people solve tough problems and demonstrate self-control while working toward goals.
-Quora (edited)