--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is often very useful for others to…" description: "\"“It is often very useful for others to think you less intelligent than you are,\" Benedict said, his tone amused. \"It works particularly well against th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png" --- # It is often very useful for others to think you less… ![“It is often very useful for others to think you less intelligent than you are," Benedict said, his tone amused. "It works particularly well against those who aren't as intelligent as you in the first place.” quote by Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png) > ““It is often very useful for others to think you less intelligent than you are," Benedict said, his tone amused. "It works particularly well against those who aren't as intelligent as you in the first place.”” [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intentionally appearing less intelligent can be a strategic advantage against those who underestimate you. **In simple terms:** Pretending to be less smart can help you win. Key Takeaway Use strategic humility. Themes strategy perception social dynamics Mood cautious strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - negotiations - team leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology social engineering Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to downplay your abilities? - What are the dangers of misperception? A Different Perspective Risk of being genuinely underestimated or dismissed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Espionage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/espionage/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [“To the best of my knowledge, sir," Benedict said in an apologetic tone, "no one has ever been able to tell my dear cousin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-sir-benedict-said-in-an-apologetic-tone/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Mr. Benedict’s amusement sent him right off to sleep, for he had a condition called narcolepsy that caused him to nod off at unexpected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-s-amusement-sent-him-right-off-to-sleep-for-he-had-a/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [I'm so pretty, it's hard for me to think of myself as intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-so-pretty-it-s-hard-for-me-to-think-of-myself-as-intelligent/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [I think that animals aren't less intelligent than humans, they're just of a different intelligence. We have five million smell-sensitive cells in our nose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/i-think-that-animals-aren-t-less-intelligent-than-humans-they-re-just/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Computers aren't intelligent, they only think they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/computers-aren-t-intelligent-they-only-think-they-are/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [Jogging is for people who aren't intelligent enough to watch television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-wood/jogging-is-for-people-who-aren-t-intelligent-enough-to-watch/) [Victoria Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-wood/) > [ Most of these other negro leaders who are supposedly integrationists aren't that intelligent \[like Reverend Galamison\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/most-of-these-other-negro-leaders-who-are-supposedly-integrationists/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“When Cole entered his darkened room on the Benedict, he said, "Hello, Kenneth." There was a rich chuckle from the corner of the room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rubens/when-cole-entered-his-darkened-room-on-the-benedict-he-said-hello/) [Michael Rubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rubens/) > [But you have said it too often, Mr. Benedict!" said Mrs. Perumal in an imperious tone that was quite out of character. "And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/but-you-have-said-it-too-often-mr-benedict-said-mrs-perumal-in-an/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“But if he had indeed blushed-and his cheeks did feel a touch warm-neither of his brothers saw it, because they didn't say anything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/but-if-he-had-indeed-blushed-and-his-cheeks-did-feel-a-touch-warm/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Hey Internet. Look at the books I read. I sure do read a lot. Everyone should think I'm very intelligent and sophisticated. I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-meyer/hey-internet-look-at-the-books-i-read-i-sure-do-read-a-lot-everyone/) Daniel Meyer > [They think we’re intelligent. So, Marco, keep quiet. We don’t want them to learn the truth.” Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/they-think-we-re-intelligent-so-marco-keep-quiet-we-don-t-want-them/) [Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/) > [I don't think I'm intelligent to become an MP!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-toffolo/i-don-t-think-i-m-intelligent-to-become-an-mp/) [Georgia Toffolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-toffolo/) > [“Most of us have been taught to think that we are either intelligent or we are not. But the definitions of intelligence we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/most-of-us-have-been-taught-to-think-that-we-are-either-intelligent/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [“One of the eternal verities of human life is that if you make the same choices as other people, they will think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/one-of-the-eternal-verities-of-human-life-is-that-if-you-make-the/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) ## More by Jim Butcher > [“I stared at MacFinn for a long moment. I believed that he was telling me the truth. That he didn’t have much control, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-stared-at-macfinn-for-a-long-moment-i-believed-that-he-was-telling/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“So you really could die. Your godmother is right, you know. You are mad as a hatter. Nutty as a fruitcake.” “Crazy like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/so-you-really-could-die-your-godmother-is-right-you-know-you-are-mad/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I knew I didn't have much of a chance of getting away from that swarm of fae piranha, but it was an infinitely larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-chance-of-getting-away-from-that-swarm/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I told you," Molly said, never looking toward me. "It's in the past. Leave it there." "You listening to my head, kiddo?" Her mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-told-you-molly-said-never-looking-toward-me-it-s-in-the-past-leave/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Punctuality is for people with nothing better to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/punctuality-is-for-people-with-nothing-better-to-do/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Look,” I said. “Me and the island are . . . kind of partners.” “Oh, right,” Thomas said. He looked at Karrin and said, “Harry’s a geosexual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/look-i-said-me-and-the-island-are-kind-of-partners-oh-right-thomas/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I swear , this stupid town. Why does every hideous supernatural thing that happens happen here ? I'm gone for a few months and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-swear-this-stupid-town-why-does-every-hideous-supernatural-thing/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“But you can't go around changing your definition of right and wrong (or smart and stupid) just because doing the wrong thing happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-you-can-t-go-around-changing-your-definition-of-right-and-wrong/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Not everyone can be equally right, Harry.” “But believe you me, everyone can be equally wrong,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/not-everyone-can-be-equally-right-harry-but-believe-you-me-everyone/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [You are a drug dealer. To tiny faeries. Shame." Sanya to Dresden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/you-are-a-drug-dealer-to-tiny-faeries-shame-sanya-to-dresden/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“He fell into step beside me and we both got into the Blue Beetle — he got in the red door. I got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/he-fell-into-step-beside-me-and-we-both-got-into-the-blue-beetle-he/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Mort looked at the cat and sighed. “Oh, sure. Professional ectomancer with a national reputation as a medium tells you what’s going on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/mort-looked-at-the-cat-and-sighed-oh-sure-professional-ectomancer/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) [Explore all 1,110 Jim Butcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## More Benedict quotes > [“Zed and Sky had stayed behind and were chatting with Will, Sky sitting on Zed's knee as if nothing was going to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/zed-and-sky-had-stayed-behind-and-were-chatting-with-will-sky-sitting/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [Benedict may not be as hurt as he really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/benedict-may-not-be-as-hurt-as-he-really-is/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [“Saul tapped his wife's obstinate chin. "Mrs. Benedict, you certainly are. You promised to obey." "That was thirty years ago! Before the wedding ceremony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/saul-tapped-his-wife-s-obstinate-chin-mrs-benedict-you-certainly-are/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [“I daily discover so much baseness and ingratitude among mankind that I almost blush at being of the same species, and could quit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-sterne-randall/i-daily-discover-so-much-baseness-and-ingratitude-among-mankind-that/) [Willard Sterne Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-sterne-randall/) > [“How am I going to help you?” “You are going to jump.” “Ha.” “You are.” “Have you done this before?” “Yeah, with fruit.” That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/how-am-i-going-to-help-you-you-are-going-to-jump-ha-you-are-have-you/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [“Hospitality is a prized virtue of monastic communities. Benedict's rule says: 'All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-shigematsu/hospitality-is-a-prized-virtue-of-monastic-communities-benedict-s/) [Ken Shigematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-shigematsu/) > [People call me Benny. And as long as they put Benedict on my paycheck, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/people-call-me-benny-and-as-long-as-they-put-benedict-on-my-paycheck/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) > [Bruce Benedict is so slow he'd finish third in a race with a pregnant woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/bruce-benedict-is-so-slow-he-d-finish-third-in-a-race-with-a-pregnant/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [“Oh my gosh, don’t you both look pretty!” We looked like rejects from the auditions for The Sound of Music. “I will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/oh-my-gosh-don-t-you-both-look-pretty-we-looked-like-rejects-from-the/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [“Here's how to get started with the antipolitical politics of the Benedict Option. Secede culturally from the mainstream. Turn off the television. Put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/here-s-how-to-get-started-with-the-antipolitical-politics-of-the/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > ['Benedict' means 'blessed.' My parents liked the sound of the name and felt slightly blessed because they'd been trying for a child for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/benedict-means-blessed-my-parents-liked-the-sound-of-the-name-and/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [“Out from behind the desk where he’d been sitting, hidden by the piles of books, appeared a bespectacled, green-eyed man in a green plaid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/out-from-behind-the-desk-where-he-d-been-sitting-hidden-by-the-piles/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“Xav tugged Yves off me and handed me the call button. “You’ll be needing this, Phee, when my irritating little squirt of a brother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/xav-tugged-yves-off-me-and-handed-me-the-call-button-you-ll-be/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [“Mr. Benedict’s amusement sent him right off to sleep, for he had a condition called narcolepsy that caused him to nod off at unexpected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/mr-benedict-s-amusement-sent-him-right-off-to-sleep-for-he-had-a/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [The one and only time I met Pope Benedict XVI was when he was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/the-one-and-only-time-i-met-pope-benedict-xvi-was-when-he-was-joseph/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) Browse all 63 Benedict quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is often very useful for others to think you less intelligent than you are,\" Benedict said, his tone amused. \"It works particularly well against those who aren't as intelligent as you in the first place.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Butcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-think-you-less-intelligent-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benedict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-think-you-less-intelligent-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/jim-butcher-151_benedict_it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-th_1072389.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is often very useful for others to think you less intelligent than you are,\" Benedict said, his tone…” — Jim Butcher", "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": "Jim Butcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is often very useful for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-think-you-less-intelligent-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-is-often-very-useful-for-others-to-think-you-less-intelligent-than/#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 } } ] } ```