--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who…" description: "\"Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior athletic ability is an object of admiration to his classmates, while one who displays superior m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg" --- # Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior… ![“Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior athletic ability is an object of admiration to his classmates, while one who displays superior mental ability is an object of hatred?” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg) > “Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior athletic ability is an object of admiration to his classmates, while one who displays superior mental ability is an object of hatred?” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society admires physical prowess but often resents intellectual excellence. **In simple terms:** Physical skill praised, mental skill scorned. Key Takeaway Recognize and value both types of talent equally. Themes society valuation talent bias Mood critical inquisitive Type social philosophical When to use this quote - education - workplace - media representation Key Concepts cognitive bias social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we elevate athletes over scholars? - What can change this perception? A Different Perspective Cultural narratives can shift over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Athletic ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic-ability/) [Classmates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Mental Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-ability/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [When my accident happened, I had spent my entire life building my athletic ability, building my mental ability, making sure I could pass any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/when-my-accident-happened-i-had-spent-my-entire-life-building-my/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [She hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/she-hardly-knew-how-to-suppose-that-she-could-be-an-object-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“For what is more foolish than for a man to study nothing else than how to please himself? To make himself the object of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/for-what-is-more-foolish-than-for-a-man-to-study-nothing-else-than/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [It is in times of difficulty that great nations like great men display the whole energy of their character and become an object of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/it-is-in-times-of-difficulty-that-great-nations-like-great-men/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“The principal difference between love and hate is that love is an irradiation, and hate is a concentration. Love makes everything lovely; hate concentrates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-principal-difference-between-love-and-hate-is-that-love-is-an/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [To be an object of hatred and aversion to their contemporaries has been the usual fate of all those whose merit has raised them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/to-be-an-object-of-hatred-and-aversion-to-their-contemporaries-has/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [In the mind of a person with too much hatred, he regards as conclusive all his negative perceptions to the object of hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toothangel15/in-the-mind-of-a-person-with-too-much-hatred-he-regards-as-conclusive/) [Toothangel15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toothangel15/) > [I am tired of a life of contention, and of being the personal object for the hatred of every man, who hates the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-tired-of-a-life-of-contention-and-of-being-the-personal-object/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The hater always suffers more than the object of his hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-hater-always-suffers-more-than-the-object-of-his-hatred/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [“When you are a real queen, there is absolutely no reason to try and make people believe that you are one. Because you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/when-you-are-a-real-queen-there-is-absolutely-no-reason-to-try-and/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [The key in terms of mental ability is chess. There's never been a woman Grand Master chess player. Once you get one, then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/the-key-in-terms-of-mental-ability-is-chess-there-s-never-been-a/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“Then--in correcting the entity--do not ever break the entity's will! Reason with the entity, for the mental ability and aspects will incline to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/then-in-correcting-the-entity-do-not-ever-break-the-entity-s-will/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [I'm no doubt the best fighter in MMA. There's no doubt about that, and I have the mental ability now to go along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/i-m-no-doubt-the-best-fighter-in-mma-there-s-no-doubt-about-that-and/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one's self - exactly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-unselfishness-as-it-is-the/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [“What capacity could have renovated your brain, endowing you with new, specialised skills as well as inducing specific codnitive deficits? This exotic mental ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-henrich/what-capacity-could-have-renovated-your-brain-endowing-you-with-new/) Joseph Henrich ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“It might seem to you, Peter, that a truck driver, one step above an ape in your view, can't remember. But truck drivers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-might-seem-to-you-peter-that-a-truck-driver-one-step-above-an-ape/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When life is so harsh that a man loses all hope in himself, then he raises his eyes to a shining rock, worshipping it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-life-is-so-harsh-that-a-man-loses-all-hope-in-himself-then-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-robot-for-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior athletic ability is an object of admiration to his classmates, while one who displays superior mental ability is an object of hatred?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Asimov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displays-superior-athletic-ability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displays-superior-athletic-ability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/isaac-asimov-309_ability_why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displ_1614390.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why is it, I wonder, that anyone who displays superior athletic ability is an object of admiration to his…” — Isaac Asimov", "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": "Isaac Asimov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why is it, I wonder, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displays-superior-athletic-ability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/why-is-it-i-wonder-that-anyone-who-displays-superior-athletic-ability/#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 } } ] } ```