--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just smart enough to be dangerous, it…" description: "\"“Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t really very smart at all.”\" — Rachel Vincent" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png" --- # Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t… ![“Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t really very smart at all.” quote by Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png) > ““Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t really very smart at all.”” [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being merely clever can be dangerous; overconfidence without wisdom leads to failure. **In simple terms:** Cleverness without wisdom is risky. Key Takeaway Balance intelligence with humility. Themes wisdom hubris danger Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts critical thinking self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When has overconfidence hurt you? - How can you check your own hubris? A Different Perspective Cleverness can mask lack of depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Turned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-turned-5077430/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Just Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-smart-237372/) [Really smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-smart/) [Smart Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-dangerous-5077429/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [My theory is that there is a finite amount of intelligence in a family, and you're supposed to gradually transfer it to your children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/my-theory-is-that-there-is-a-finite-amount-of-intelligence-in-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Let's just be smart this time. I'm looking for smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/let-s-just-be-smart-this-time-i-m-looking-for-smart/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Just have to be smart. Can't hurt your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-donald/just-have-to-be-smart-can-t-hurt-your-team/) [Aaron Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-donald/) > [“I believe everything the echo chamber tells me because, well, heck, I'm just not that smart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groundoggy/i-believe-everything-the-echo-chamber-tells-me-because-well-heck-i-m/) [Groundoggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groundoggy/) > [There are always answers. We just have to be smart enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-are-always-answers-we-just-have-to-be-smart-enough/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Mitch Hurwitz was like a father figure to me. He was so sweet, and he's just so smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/mitch-hurwitz-was-like-a-father-figure-to-me-he-was-so-sweet-and-he-s/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [That boys as strong as an ox, and just about as smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-boys-as-strong-as-an-ox-and-just-about-as-smart/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [They think that, if we were just smart enough, we'd be able to understand their policies. And I so want to tell 'em, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/they-think-that-if-we-were-just-smart-enough-we-d-be-able-to/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Steve Nash is just so smart. 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Five-year-olds have an uncanny way of getting into your psyche, your self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/slobodan-milosevic-was-just-as-smart-as-a-five-year-old-five-year/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [I'm just too smart and I'm too well-rounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-m-just-too-smart-and-i-m-too-well-rounded/) [Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/) > [Smart in or smart out, just be smart, you can't just be dumb your ol' life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/smart-in-or-smart-out-just-be-smart-you-can-t-just-be-dumb-your-ol/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [A lot of the time, I'm just smart enough to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/a-lot-of-the-time-i-m-just-smart-enough-to-be-unhappy/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [We humans are just smart enough to fool ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendall-rownd/we-humans-are-just-smart-enough-to-fool-ourselves/) [Kendall Rownd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendall-rownd/) > [CNN is just about smart, interesting programming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisyn-camerota/cnn-is-just-about-smart-interesting-programming/) [Alisyn Camerota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisyn-camerota/) ## More by Rachel Vincent > [So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/so-did-the-costume-come-with-a-condom-or-is-that-sold-separately/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [So, what now? We’re friends?" Yeah. If friends could be in love, but not together. In sync, but out of touch. Willing to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/so-what-now-we-re-friends-yeah-if-friends-could-be-in-love-but-not/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“You'll have to give me a minute here. Gravity's a real bitch this morning. Ian to Kori”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-ll-have-to-give-me-a-minute-here-gravity-s-a-real-bitch-this/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Wow," Liv said, when I dropped the mallet back into the drawer. "That looked like fun. I call dibs on the next over-the-top destruction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/wow-liv-said-when-i-dropped-the-mallet-back-into-the-drawer-that/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“So...what are you delivering today -- pizza or death?" "Both, actually.  Pepperoni for you now, and a fatal aneurism to the woman in room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/so-what-are-you-delivering-today-pizza-or-death-both-actually/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“My hands wrapped around his waist, traveling up the broad expanse of his back, mooth and hard, and... "Give it a rest, already," Tod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/my-hands-wrapped-around-his-waist-traveling-up-the-broad-expanse-of/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“I don't even like regular plants. Except for corsages and long-stemmed roses...and those only hurt when they don't show up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/i-don-t-even-like-regular-plants-except-for-corsages-and-long-stemmed/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“I want everyone to get plenty of rest tonight, because tomorrow, we make plans to bury the new council chair. And don't worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/i-want-everyone-to-get-plenty-of-rest-tonight-because-tomorrow-we/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“Take a nice, long look at your future, reaper. You'll soon be burning as fuel for hundreds of tiny fires." Tod laughed out loud.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/take-a-nice-long-look-at-your-future-reaper-you-ll-soon-be-burning-as/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved was full of crap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/whoever-said-it-is-better-to-have-loved-and-lost-than-never-to-have/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Because the alternative sucks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/because-the-alternative-sucks/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [If she were going to die, I'd already be screaming. I'm a Banshee. That's what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/if-she-were-going-to-die-i-d-already-be-screaming-i-m-a-banshee-that/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [You're not lost, Kaylee. You can't ever be lost, because I'll always know where you are. And if I'm not there with you, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-re-not-lost-kaylee-you-can-t-ever-be-lost-because-i-ll-always/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“Why would you do that? Why the hell would you ever think I wanted you to do that? I’m supposed to protect you.” Liv’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/why-would-you-do-that-why-the-hell-would-you-ever-think-i-wanted-you/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) [Explore all 415 Rachel Vincent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The more people that learn about you, even if you're an underdog, then you can come under fire a lot and the more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-more-people-that-learn-about-you-even-if-you-re-an-underdog-then/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) [Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t really very smart at all.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Vincent" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-turned-out-wasn-t-really-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dangerous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-turned-out-wasn-t-really-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/rachel-vincent-677_dangerous_just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-tur_3051553.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just smart enough to be dangerous, it turned out, wasn’t really very smart at all.” — Rachel Vincent", "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": "Rachel Vincent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Just smart enough to be dangerous,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-turned-out-wasn-t-really-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/just-smart-enough-to-be-dangerous-it-turned-out-wasn-t-really-very/#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 } } ] } ```