---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smart is, and has always been, sexy."
description: "\"Smart is, and has always been, sexy.\" — Deborah Harkness"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg"
---

#  Smart is, and has always been, sexy.

![“Smart is, and has always been, sexy.” quote by Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg)

> “Smart is, and has always been, sexy.”

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Attractiveness is linked to intelligence, suggesting that being smart is inherently appealing.

**In simple terms:** Being smart is attractive.

Key Takeaway

Value intelligence.

Themes

intelligence attractiveness perception

Mood

confident playful

Type

observational cultural

When to use this quote

- dating
- career advancement
- public speaking

Key Concepts

cultural perception social status

Questions to Reflect On

- How does society reward intelligence?
- Can attractiveness be independent of intelligence?

A Different Perspective

Intelligence alone may not guarantee desirability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Sexy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexy/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm telling you that you don't have to choose between smart and sexy. You can have both. You are both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-m-telling-you-that-you-don-t-have-to-choose-between-smart-and-sexy/)

[Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/)

> [In the '80s, to get a contemporary Scot who was smart, sexy and funny was very unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/in-the-80s-to-get-a-contemporary-scot-who-was-smart-sexy-and-funny/)

[Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/)

> [“That’s the spirit of Nasty Gal: We want you to dress for yourself, and know that it’s not shallow to put effort into how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/that-s-the-spirit-of-nasty-gal-we-want-you-to-dress-for-yourself-and/)

[Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/)

> [I have been told for so many years that you can't be smart and sexy. I started to think, "Well, why the heck can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-have-been-told-for-so-many-years-that-you-can-t-be-smart-and-sexy-i/)

[Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/)

> [Yeah, it's tough being smart and sexy, too. I have to say, I'm really not that attractive. Until I met my husband, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/yeah-it-s-tough-being-smart-and-sexy-too-i-have-to-say-i-m-really-not/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [Wine is smart, sexy, and classy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/wine-is-smart-sexy-and-classy/)

[Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/)

> [Let's make math fun and sexy and glamorous. Smart is sexy, that's one of my main messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/let-s-make-math-fun-and-sexy-and-glamorous-smart-is-sexy-that-s-one/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [I think that smart is sexy, and driven is sexy, and passion is sexy, and if you're passionate about math, so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-slavin/i-think-that-smart-is-sexy-and-driven-is-sexy-and-passion-is-sexy-and/)

Jonathan Slavin

> [Society tells you that you can't be smart and sexy, and that's totally wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hazell/society-tells-you-that-you-can-t-be-smart-and-sexy-and-that-s-totally/)

[Keeley Hazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hazell/)

> [I think smart is sexy. I like smart people. People that are comfortable with themselves I think is very sexy. My cat is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-gershon/i-think-smart-is-sexy-i-like-smart-people-people-that-are-comfortable/)

[Gina Gershon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-gershon/)

> [Not to sound bad, but some girls are dumb. It's because they spend so much of their life trying to have the right look.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/not-to-sound-bad-but-some-girls-are-dumb-it-s-because-they-spend-so/)

[Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/)

> [Love is when you realize that he's as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/love-is-when-you-realize-that-he-s-as-sexy-as-woody-allen-as-smart-as/)

[Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/)

> [The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart. And being thoughtful. And being generous. Everything else is crap!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/the-sexiest-thing-in-the-entire-world-is-being-really-smart-and-being/)

[Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/)

> [I know it sounds weird, but my definition of 'sexy' has changed as I've gotten older. And being smart and informed makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-it-sounds-weird-but-my-definition-of-sexy-has-changed-as-i-ve/)

[Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/)

> [I've been astounded to discover how good to their teams and crew that Marvel are. They're so collaborative, so smart with their stories. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-ve-been-astounded-to-discover-how-good-to-their-teams-and-crew-that/)

[Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/)

## More by Deborah Harkness

> [After 20 years of writing academic prose and lectures, it seems very familiar and straightforward to me. Writing a novel for the first time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/after-20-years-of-writing-academic-prose-and-lectures-it-seems-very/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [“As far as I can tell there are only two emotions that keep the world spinning year after year...One is fear. The other is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/as-far-as-i-can-tell-there-are-only-two-emotions-that-keep-the-world/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [For me, a $20 wine that drinks like a $40 wine in terms of complexity and interest is a value, while a $5 wine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/for-me-a-20-wine-that-drinks-like-a-40-wine-in-terms-of-complexity/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [“Some swore he was a maid in man's attire, For in his looks were all that men desire, A pleasant smiling cheeke, a speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/some-swore-he-was-a-maid-in-man-s-attire-for-in-his-looks-were-all/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [I took a course on 'Magic, Alchemy, and Astrology' at Mount Holyoke, and it was a whole new awakening for me, a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/i-took-a-course-on-magic-alchemy-and-astrology-at-mount-holyoke-and/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [Her bark is worse than her bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/her-bark-is-worse-than-her-bite/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [The king just sits there, moving one square at a time. The queen can move so freely. I suppose I’d rather lose the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/the-king-just-sits-there-moving-one-square-at-a-time-the-queen-can/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [What if 16th century people were right, and the supernatural and natural coexisted? How would that play out?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/what-if-16th-century-people-were-right-and-the-supernatural-and/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [I was planning on starting a new file on my computer with the title "Phrases That Sound One Way to Witches but Mean Something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/i-was-planning-on-starting-a-new-file-on-my-computer-with-the-title/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [I think you can learn a lot from primary sources. 'The Penguin Book of Witches,' which is edited by novelist Katherine Howe, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/i-think-you-can-learn-a-lot-from-primary-sources-the-penguin-book-of/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [“History only became more challenging when it became less neat. Every time I pick up a book or document from the past, I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/history-only-became-more-challenging-when-it-became-less-neat-every/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [We live in a world where we think the mysterious is retreating farther and farther from our lives and eventually we will know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/we-live-in-a-world-where-we-think-the-mysterious-is-retreating/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [“Give me knowledge of my end and the measure of my days, so I may know my frailty. My lifetime is no longer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/give-me-knowledge-of-my-end-and-the-measure-of-my-days-so-i-may-know/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [Memories were short and history unkind. It was the way of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/memories-were-short-and-history-unkind-it-was-the-way-of-the-world/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

> [“All men are fools, Your Majesty,” Matthew said swiftly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/all-men-are-fools-your-majesty-matthew-said-swiftly/)

[Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

[Explore all 122 Deborah Harkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Smart is, and has always been, sexy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Deborah Harkness"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/deborah-harkness-3590_always_smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy-184681_1846817.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Smart is, and has always been, sexy.” — Deborah Harkness",
                "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": "Deborah Harkness",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Smart is, and has always been,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/smart-is-and-has-always-been-sexy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
