--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He spends a lot of time telling you how…" description: "\"“He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which is odd because, if you’re truly all that bright, people can usually figure it out on their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png" --- # He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which… ![“He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which is odd because, if you’re truly all that bright, people can usually figure it out on their own.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png) > ““He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which is odd because, if you’re truly all that bright, people can usually figure it out on their own.”” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who constantly brag about intelligence often lack genuine insight; true brilliance is evident without self‑promotion. **In simple terms:** Bragging hides true intelligence. Key Takeaway Let actions speak louder than words. Themes humility intelligence self‑awareness communication Mood wry observational Type literary humorous When to use this quote - workplace - education - social interactions Key Concepts social perception authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize authentic expertise? - What encourages modesty? A Different Perspective Self‑promotion may be a defense mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“How come if people keep telling me I'm so smart, I keep doing such stupid things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-watsky/how-come-if-people-keep-telling-me-i-m-so-smart-i-keep-doing-such/) [George Watsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-watsky/) > [Praise your child explicitly for how capable they are of learning rather than telling them how smart they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/praise-your-child-explicitly-for-how-capable-they-are-of-learning/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [We're so used to the tests telling me if I'm smart or not. It's telling me if I know the material or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/we-re-so-used-to-the-tests-telling-me-if-i-m-smart-or-not-it-s/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [I like 'Bright.' Some people didn't like 'Bright' - I loved it. I love that film for how blatantly obvious the analogies are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-centineo/i-like-bright-some-people-didn-t-like-bright-i-loved-it-i-love-that/) [Noah Centineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-centineo/) > [“Be so warm that people mistake you for the sun; so bright that people mistake you for the stars; and so accommodating that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/be-so-warm-that-people-mistake-you-for-the-sun-so-bright-that-people/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Most of the bright people don't work for you - no matter who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-joy/most-of-the-bright-people-don-t-work-for-you-no-matter-who-you-are/) [Bill Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-joy/) > [Less dark Clouds on the sky, make the world more bright, so sometimes less people around me, makes my life more bright,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishant-grover/less-dark-clouds-on-the-sky-make-the-world-more-bright-so-sometimes/) [Nishant Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishant-grover/) > [Always look on the bright side. Why are some people just so tuned in to negativity? Everything they say or do is somehow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-on-the-bright-side-why-are-some-people-just-so-tuned-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like the stage lights to be bright so I can't see people because I will inevitably only see the ones who aren't laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/i-like-the-stage-lights-to-be-bright-so-i-can-t-see-people-because-i/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [I have the freedom to do what I want... bright people to talk to every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/i-have-the-freedom-to-do-what-i-want-bright-people-to-talk-to-every/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [There are so many bright people who just need an opportunity to help others and pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/there-are-so-many-bright-people-who-just-need-an-opportunity-to-help/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [You can always spot bright people. They are reading a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-soto/you-can-always-spot-bright-people-they-are-reading-a-book/) [Gary Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-soto/) > [I'm always distressed by the supposedly bright people who don't know what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-clark/i-m-always-distressed-by-the-supposedly-bright-people-who-don-t-know/) [Dick Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-clark/) > [People usually call me for experimental songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/people-usually-call-me-for-experimental-songs/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [“Expectation and fact are two different things that people usually cannot differentiate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/expectation-and-fact-are-two-different-things-that-people-usually/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More Smart quotes > [Voltaire was a smart cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/voltaire-was-a-smart-cookie/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [A lot of times when you're around really, really smart people, you don't really understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/a-lot-of-times-when-you-re-around-really-really-smart-people-you-don/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [We're all born with different talents. I'm really not that smart, but I can see things - financially and development-wise. It's just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/we-re-all-born-with-different-talents-i-m-really-not-that-smart-but-i/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [Thirty guys equals five percent die-off among active wingsuit base jumpers. That means there's a flaw in our system and you're an idiot if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/thirty-guys-equals-five-percent-die-off-among-active-wingsuit-base/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The strange rejection of the expert is mind boggling to me. When we're told that the worst word in politics is 'elite,' I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/the-strange-rejection-of-the-expert-is-mind-boggling-to-me-when-we-re/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If you're a smart writer, you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/if-you-re-a-smart-writer-you-listen/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [Oxymoron: She's Smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/oxymoron-she-s-smart/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling its spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/widespread-use-of-antibiotics-promotes-the-spread-of-antibiotic/) [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/) > [Smart people don't carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/smart-people-don-t-carry-the-weight-of-the-world-on-their-shoulders/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [As an actor, it was great to work with Harry Lloyd because he's wicked smart, and he is very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/as-an-actor-it-was-great-to-work-with-harry-lloyd-because-he-s-wicked/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [What I think is that Fox has done a very smart job of carving out their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/what-i-think-is-that-fox-has-done-a-very-smart-job-of-carving-out/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) [Browse all 4,830 Smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which is odd because, if you’re truly all that bright, people can usually figure it out on their own.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Sedaris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how-smart-he-is-which-is-odd/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Smart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how-smart-he-is-which-is-odd/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/david-sedaris-333_smart_he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how_764385.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He spends a lot of time telling you how smart he is, which is odd because, if you’re truly all that bright…” — David Sedaris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Sedaris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He spends a lot of time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how-smart-he-is-which-is-odd/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/he-spends-a-lot-of-time-telling-you-how-smart-he-is-which-is-odd/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```