--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people think that intelligence is…" description: "\"Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. Genius is just attention to a subject until it becomes specific, spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/esther-hicks-592_attention_most-people-think-that-intelligence-is-a_1776671.png" --- # Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where… ![“Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. Genius is just attention to a subject until it becomes specific, specific, specific.” quote by Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/esther-hicks-592_attention_most-people-think-that-intelligence-is-a_1776671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/esther-hicks-592_attention_most-people-think-that-intelligence-is-a_1776671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/336/esther-hicks-592_attention_most-people-think-that-intelligence-is-a_1776671.png) > “Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. Genius is just attention to a subject until it becomes specific, specific, specific.” [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is less about raw brainpower and more about sustained focus; true expertise emerges from deep, repeated attention to a subject. **In simple terms:** Focus, not brain size, creates expertise. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep focus on what matters. Themes intelligence focus expertise Mood motivational reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - studying - skill development - creative work - research Key Concepts attention deliberate practice cognitive specialization Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your focus today? - What subjects could benefit from deeper attention? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-genius-1825716/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-brain-1825715/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Think Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-intelligence-363619/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Anything that could give rise to smarter-than-human intelligence - in the form of Artificial Intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, or neuroscience-based human intelligence enhancement - wins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/anything-that-could-give-rise-to-smarter-than-human-intelligence-in/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I first think of intelligence. You need it for surviving in Italy because Italy is so pompous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/i-first-think-of-intelligence-you-need-it-for-surviving-in-italy/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [“it has to do with whether you think intelligence is fixed (you’re born as smart as you’ll ever be) or changeable (you can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan-2/it-has-to-do-with-whether-you-think-intelligence-is-fixed-you-re-born/) [M.J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan-2/) > [You think intelligence and grit can succeed by themselves, but I'm telling you that's a pretty illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kress/you-think-intelligence-and-grit-can-succeed-by-themselves-but-i-m/) [Nancy Kress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kress/) > [I think the intelligence I get is darn good intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-think-the-intelligence-i-get-is-darn-good-intelligence/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I think intelligence is something you have to work for … it isn’t just given to you….”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/i-think-intelligence-is-something-you-have-to-work-for-it-isn-t-just/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [I think intelligence basically can be in a way defined by the possibility of having two opposite ideas living together and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-think-intelligence-basically-can-be-in-a-way-defined-by-the/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Learning to be aware of what you unconsciously know may depend on a line of focused effort and specialized knowledge and even some measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/learning-to-be-aware-of-what-you-unconsciously-know-may-depend-on-a/) [Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/) > [I think that intelligence is such a narrow branch of the tree of life - this branch of primates we call humans. No other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-think-that-intelligence-is-such-a-narrow-branch-of-the-tree-of-life/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Obama found a lot of people that think just like he does, and he put them in the intelligence community. Can you imagine? When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-found-a-lot-of-people-that-think-just-like-he-does-and-he-put/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think intelligence is usually sexy until it becomes irritating. After that, you're stuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-think-intelligence-is-usually-sexy-until-it-becomes-irritating/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [Whatever you think about his intelligence, what's unquestionable is that Reagan had extraordinary emotional intelligence. He could sense the temperature of a room, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/whatever-you-think-about-his-intelligence-what-s-unquestionable-is/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Of course I believe in aliens. I think it's very egocentric to think that there's nothing else with intelligence in the whole universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-brochere/of-course-i-believe-in-aliens-i-think-it-s-very-egocentric-to-think/) [Lizzie Brochere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-brochere/) > [I think our intelligence is a source of toxicity to nature and discomfort to ourselves unless our values are based on planetary values, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-think-our-intelligence-is-a-source-of-toxicity-to-nature-and/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I don't think the intelligence community itself institutionally is losing its focus; it will continue to do its job; continue to be vigilant on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/i-don-t-think-the-intelligence-community-itself-institutionally-is/) [James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/) ## More by Esther Hicks > [Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/appreciation-is-the-purest-vibration-that-exists-on-the-planet-today/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“We know that words do not teach, that only life experience teaches, but the combination of life experience coupled with words that define and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/we-know-that-words-do-not-teach-that-only-life-experience-teaches-but/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [It is only in your thriving that you have anything to offer anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/it-is-only-in-your-thriving-that-you-have-anything-to-offer-anyone/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I am that which I am, and I am willing to allow all others to be that which they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/i-am-that-which-i-am-and-i-am-willing-to-allow-all-others-to-be-that/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Ich bin so, wie ich bin, und ich bin bereit, auch alle anderen so sein zu lassen, wie sie sind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/ich-bin-so-wie-ich-bin-und-ich-bin-bereit-auch-alle-anderen-so-sein/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Creation isn't forcing or commanding something into existence. It's more of a rolling over, a good stretch, blissing out, lying on the grass watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/creation-isn-t-forcing-or-commanding-something-into-existence-it-s/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Creation Here is an exercise that will assist you in your Deliberate Creating: Take three separate pieces of paper, and at the top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/creation-here-is-an-exercise-that-will-assist-you-in-your-deliberate/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Physical beings want things to be the same. They want people to think the same. You work rather hard at sameness, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/physical-beings-want-things-to-be-the-same-they-want-people-to-think/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [One who is connected to the Energy Stream is more powerful than a million who are not. And two who are harmoniously focused and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/one-who-is-connected-to-the-energy-stream-is-more-powerful-than-a/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Your hands are tied in action, but your hands are not tied in imagination and everything springs forth from the imagination. Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/your-hands-are-tied-in-action-but-your-hands-are-not-tied-in/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Offer a vibration that matches your desire rather than offering a vibration that keeps matching what-is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/offer-a-vibration-that-matches-your-desire-rather-than-offering-a/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [The certain pathway to all things that you want is through the corridor of joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/the-certain-pathway-to-all-things-that-you-want-is-through-the/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Make up your mind that nothing is more important than how I feel now, because now is everything. Now is the whole enchilada. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/make-up-your-mind-that-nothing-is-more-important-than-how-i-feel-now/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) [Explore all 445 Esther Hicks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. 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