--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essence of intelligence would seem to…" description: "\"The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing when to think and act quickly, and knowing when to think and act slowly.\" — Robert Sternberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg" --- # The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing… ![“The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing when to think and act quickly, and knowing when to think and act slowly.” quote by Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg) > “The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing when to think and act quickly, and knowing when to think and act slowly.” [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence involves adapting thought speed to context—fast for routine decisions, slow for complex analysis. **In simple terms:** Know when to think fast or slow. Key Takeaway Adjust thinking speed to task demands. Themes cognition decision making intelligence Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational psychological When to use this quote - Emergency response - strategic planning - learning new skills Key Concepts Adaptive expertise metacognition problem solving Questions to Reflect On - When do you choose rapid versus deliberate thinking? - How can you train both modes? 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If you realize that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-te-ching/knowing-others-is-intelligence-knowing-yourself-is-true-wisdom/) [Tao Te Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-te-ching/) > [Even with limited intelligence, knowing oneself is not as difficult as some say, but to act according to what one has realized about oneself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/even-with-limited-intelligence-knowing-oneself-is-not-as-difficult-as/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“It is only when we let go of knowing what we think we know that new knowing can enter our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-parkinson/it-is-only-when-we-let-go-of-knowing-what-we-think-we-know-that-new/) Maria Parkinson ## More by Robert Sternberg > [In other words, unlike some people with new theories, we will go out, we'll go into a school and we get products and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/in-other-words-unlike-some-people-with-new-theories-we-will-go-out-we/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [Well, first of all, we did lots of studies where we show practical intelligence doesn't correlate with G. We have probably two dozen studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/well-first-of-all-we-did-lots-of-studies-where-we-show-practical/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [But what many psychologists have done, probably because they did well on a test themselves and everyone wants high self esteem, is to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/but-what-many-psychologists-have-done-probably-because-they-did-well/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [If there's going to be an SAT, it's probably practical to invest in a book or perhaps in a course, but I'm sorry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/if-there-s-going-to-be-an-sat-it-s-probably-practical-to-invest-in-a/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [So, for example, if a child is labeled as having a learning disability, it has very concrete consequences for the kinds of services and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/so-for-example-if-a-child-is-labeled-as-having-a-learning-disability/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [I've taught statistics, math courses and what I've found is that often if you teach them algebraically the formulas, you'll have one group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/i-ve-taught-statistics-math-courses-and-what-i-ve-found-is-that-often/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [The world supports a multi-million dollar industry of intelligence and ability research, but it devotes virtually nothing to determine why this intelligence is squandered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-world-supports-a-multi-million-dollar-industry-of-intelligence/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [The problem is that there are very few technologies that essentially haven't changed for 60, 70 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-problem-is-that-there-are-very-few-technologies-that-essentially/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [I'm more of a creative learner, ... I do very well in projects, but I was not good at memorizing all of that material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/i-m-more-of-a-creative-learner-i-do-very-well-in-projects-but-i-was/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [There is no recipe to be a great teacher, that's what is unique about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/there-is-no-recipe-to-be-a-great-teacher-that-s-what-is-unique-about/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [And in order to succeed in later life, you need creative skills because look at how fast the world is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/and-in-order-to-succeed-in-later-life-you-need-creative-skills/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [Passion is the quickest to develop, and the quickest to fade. Intimacy develops more slowly, and commitment more gradually still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/passion-is-the-quickest-to-develop-and-the-quickest-to-fade-intimacy/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [In other words, if a teacher only teaches in one way, then they conclude that the kids who can't learn well that way don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/in-other-words-if-a-teacher-only-teaches-in-one-way-then-they/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [And if we don't have a test, what we may end up doing is going back to what this country has done before. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/and-if-we-don-t-have-a-test-what-we-may-end-up-doing-is-going-back-to/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [There was already a famous Sternberg in psychology and it was obvious there would not be another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/there-was-already-a-famous-sternberg-in-psychology-and-it-was-obvious/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) [Explore all 30 Robert Sternberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [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/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing when to think and act quickly, and knowing when to think and act slowly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Sternberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-to-be-in-knowing-when-to-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Essence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-to-be-in-knowing-when-to-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/robert-sternberg-20677_essence_the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-t_2056336.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The essence of intelligence would seem to be in knowing when to think and act quickly, and knowing when to…” — Robert Sternberg", "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": "Robert Sternberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The essence of intelligence would seem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-to-be-in-knowing-when-to-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/the-essence-of-intelligence-would-seem-to-be-in-knowing-when-to-think/#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 } } ] } ```