--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The test of a first-rate intelligence is…" description: "\"“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_ability_the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is_485972.jpg" --- # The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to… ![“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." –F. Scott Fitzgerald” quote by Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_ability_the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is_485972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_ability_the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is_485972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_ability_the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is_485972.jpg) > ““The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." –F. Scott Fitzgerald”” [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is measured by holding contradictory ideas simultaneously while still functioning. **In simple terms:** Smart minds juggle opposing thoughts. Key Takeaway Embrace cognitive flexibility. Themes intelligence paradox critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debate - problem solving - creative brainstorming - conflict resolution Key Concepts Cognitive dissonance Duality Functionality Questions to Reflect On - Can you hold two conflicting beliefs without stress? - When does flexibility become indecision? A Different Perspective Balancing opposing ideas can cause mental strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-ability/) [Intelligence Is The Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-is-the-ability/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Retain Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retain-ability-2076921/) [Scott fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scott-fitzgerald/) ## Related quotes > [“Scott Fitzgerald famously declared that “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scott-fitzgerald-famously-declared-that-the-test-of-a-first-rate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lucas/f-scott-fitzgerald-said-the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the/) [Peter Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lucas/) > [The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [...the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-4/) [F. 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Scott Fitzgerald has an indespensible quote: 'The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/f-scott-fitzgerald-has-an-indespensible-quote-the-test-of-a-first/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-adapt-to-change/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“Intelligence requires first the gift of curiosity.  Without curiosity, who would ask questions?  Second, intelligence is the ability to synthesize.  Facts alone signify little. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ki-longfellow/intelligence-requires-first-the-gift-of-curiosity-without-curiosity/) [Ki Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ki-longfellow/) > [“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-5/) [F. 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It is the way we interact with each other and how we grasp the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/language-is-one-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-human-understanding/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-duffy/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-3/) [Maurice Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-duffy/) > [Intelligence is the ability of finding an answer while wisdom is the quality of having the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-finding-an-answer-while-wisdom-is-the/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [Intelligence is the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one's own culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-find-and-solve-problems-and-create/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) ## More by Robert T. 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Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Just as inside every problem lies an opportunity, inside every disappointment lies a priceless gem of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/just-as-inside-every-problem-lies-an-opportunity-inside-every/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“The main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not the economy or the government or the rich. It’s self-inflicted fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/the-main-cause-of-poverty-or-financial-struggle-is-fear-and-ignorance/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“With small companies, my investment strategy is to be out of the stock in a year. My real estate strategy, on the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/with-small-companies-my-investment-strategy-is-to-be-out-of-the-stock/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Leadership is what you need to learn next,” he said. “If you’re not a good leader, you’ll get shot in the back, just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/leadership-is-what-you-need-to-learn-next-he-said-if-you-re-not-a/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“terms. The net effect is that I have created $30,000 in my asset column for which I am paid interest, just like a bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/terms-the-net-effect-is-that-i-have-created-30-000-in-my-asset-column/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“reactions and think. That is important. We will always have emotions of fear and greed. From here on in, it’s imperative for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/reactions-and-think-that-is-important-we-will-always-have-emotions-of/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“They spend their lives minding someone else’s business and making that person rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/they-spend-their-lives-minding-someone-else-s-business-and-making/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“The problem with “secure” investments is that they are often sanitized, that is, made so safe that the gains are less. Most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/the-problem-with-secure-investments-is-that-they-are-often-sanitized/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) [Explore all 128 Robert T. Kiyosaki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) ## 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. 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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. 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