Intelligence Quote by Daniel Kahneman
““Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed. Memory function is an attribute of System 1. However, everyone has the option of slowing down to conduct an active search of memory for all possibly relevant facts—just as they could slow down to check the intuitive answer in the bat-and-ball problem. The extent of deliberate checking and search is a characteristic of System 2, which varies among individuals.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, 2011
Intelligence combines reasoning with retrieving relevant memories and focusing attention; System 1 handles quick recall, while System 2 enables deliberate search and verification.
In simple terms: Intelligence = reasoning + memory retrieval + attention control
Key Takeaway
Use System 2 to verify intuitive answers.
Themes
cognition
cognitive bias
memory
attention
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- solving puzzles
- making decisions
- learning new topics
- checking facts
Key Concepts
System 1
System 2
deliberate reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you trust intuition versus deliberate search?
- How does memory retrieval affect problem solving?
A Different Perspective
Deliberate checking can be time‑consuming and may cause over‑analysis.
