--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no greater evidence of superior…" description: "\"There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than to be surprised at nothing.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png" --- # There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than… ![“There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than to be surprised at nothing.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png) > “There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than to be surprised at nothing.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that true intelligence is demonstrated by remaining unsurprised, implying that a wise person anticipates all outcomes. **In simple terms:** Smart people expect everything. Key Takeaway Stay prepared for all possibilities. Themes wisdom anticipation knowledge Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - risk management - learning - problem solving Key Concepts cognitive resilience philosophical insight Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever allow yourself to be surprised? - How can surprise foster creativity? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of genuine surprise and wonder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Superior intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-intelligence/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [My comprehension of God comes from a deeply felt conviction of a superior intelligence that reveals itself in the knowable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/my-comprehension-of-god-comes-from-a-deeply-felt-conviction-of-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [This sense of wonder leads most scientists to a Superior Being - der Alte, the Old One, as Einstein affectionately called the Deity -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/this-sense-of-wonder-leads-most-scientists-to-a-superior-being-der/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [Sometimes you're sure dogs have some secret, superior intelligence, and other times you know they're only their simple, goofy selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/sometimes-you-re-sure-dogs-have-some-secret-superior-intelligence-and/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [In our society those who are in reality superior in intelligence can be accepted by their fellows only if they pretend they are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/in-our-society-those-who-are-in-reality-superior-in-intelligence-can/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Modesty teaches us to speak of the ancients with respect, especially when we are not very familiar with their works. Newton, who knew them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/modesty-teaches-us-to-speak-of-the-ancients-with-respect-especially/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Although other animals cannot reason nor speak the way humans do, this does not give us the right to do with them as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-altman/although-other-animals-cannot-reason-nor-speak-the-way-humans-do-this/) Nathaniel Altman > [The case for exploiting animals for food, clothing and entertainment often relies on our superior intelligence, language and self-awareness: the rights of the superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-case-for-exploiting-animals-for-food-clothing-and-entertainment/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [A good athlete can enter a state of body-awareness in which the right stroke or the right movement happens by itself, effortlessly, without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-athlete-can-enter-a-state-of-body-awareness-in-which-the-right/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [...no man of genuinely superior intelligence has ever been an actor. 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In the eye of superior intelligence, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/cows-sometimes-wear-an-expression-resembling-wonderment-arrested-on/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Learning to be flexible in values takes a very long time...Of course I felt a little uncomfortable during questioning the concept of God, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/learning-to-be-flexible-in-values-takes-a-very-long-time-of-course-i/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [For me, having superior intelligence is not a gift but rather a curse!! Everyone looks at you as a knowledgeable person with no right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinchan/for-me-having-superior-intelligence-is-not-a-gift-but-rather-a-curse/) Shinchan ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Evidence quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“What you owe your critics are your RESULTS not explanations not defence just RESULTS.Evidence terminates Arguments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/what-you-owe-your-critics-are-your-results-not-explanations-not/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Dogmatism compensates for evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-wallace/dogmatism-compensates-for-evidence/) Dana Wallace > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) Deyth Banger > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/human-unhappiness-is-evidence-of-our-immortality/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The state is in danger of falling into disrepute due to the evidence of its inadequate resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-habermas/the-state-is-in-danger-of-falling-into-disrepute-due-to-the-evidence/) [Jurgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-habermas/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) Browse all 3,643 Evidence quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than to be surprised at nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Billings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior-intelligence-than-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior-intelligence-than-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a6/josh-billings-777_evidence_there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior_579330.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no greater evidence of superior intelligence than to be surprised at nothing.” — Josh Billings", "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": "Josh Billings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no greater evidence of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior-intelligence-than-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-no-greater-evidence-of-superior-intelligence-than-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```