Highly intelligent Quote by Ben Macintyre
““Far from being repelled by the duplicity around him, Elliott felt ever more drawn to the game of skulduggery and double cross. The Venlo debacle had been “as disastrous as it was shameful,” but he also found it fascinating, an object lesson in how highly intelligent people could be duped if persuaded to believe what they most wanted to believe. He was learning quickly.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Man Who Loved the Sky by Ben Macintyre, 2018
Elliott is fascinated by deception, seeing how intelligent people can be fooled by their desires, and learns quickly from it.
In simple terms: Intelligence can be misled by desire, and learning comes from observing deception.
Key Takeaway
Watch for bias and question assumptions.
Themes
deception
intelligence
learning
bias
psychology
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- business negotiations
- personal decision making
- media consumption
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
confirmation bias
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your desires shape your judgments?
- What safeguards can prevent self‑deception?
A Different Perspective
Even the smartest can be duped if they ignore contrary evidence.
![“[About Pierre de Fermat] It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For my part, however, I have always been taught to take a broad overview of things, in order to be able to deduce from them general rules, which might be applicable…” quote by Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/588/ren-descartes-1376_able_about-pierre-de-fermat-it-cannot-be-deni_89929.jpg)
