I'm used to people with very high IQs knowing how to…
“I'm used to people with very high IQs knowing how to recognize reality, but there's a huge human tendency where it may be instructive to think that whatever you're doing to succeed is all right.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Annual Shareholder Meeting, Berkshire Hathaway, 2018
People often trust high‑IQ individuals to define reality, yet many succeed by rationalizing any action as acceptable, overlooking ethical limits.
In simple terms: Intelligent people can justify any behavior as correct.
Key Takeaway
Question your own rationalizations.
Themes
ethics
self‑deception
intelligence
success
Mood
reflective
critical
cautious
Type
advice
philosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- personal ambition
- leadership
- investment choices
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
moral relativism
rationalization
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify that your actions align with reality rather than self‑interest?
- What checks can prevent rationalization from overriding ethics?
A Different Perspective
High IQ does not guarantee moral clarity; rationalization can blind ethical judgment.