--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many persons of high intelligence have…" description: "\"Many persons of high intelligence have notoriously poor judgement.\" — Sydney J. Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sydney-j-harris-1578_decision_many-persons-of-high-intelligence-have-n_3199122.png" --- # Many persons of high intelligence have notoriously poor… ![“Many persons of high intelligence have notoriously poor judgement.” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sydney-j-harris-1578_decision_many-persons-of-high-intelligence-have-n_3199122.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sydney-j-harris-1578_decision_many-persons-of-high-intelligence-have-n_3199122.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sydney-j-harris-1578_decision_many-persons-of-high-intelligence-have-n_3199122.png) > “Many persons of high intelligence have notoriously poor judgement.” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligent people often make poor decisions because intellect doesn’t guarantee sound judgment. **In simple terms:** Smart people can still err badly. Key Takeaway Balance knowledge with humility and diverse perspectives. Themes intelligence judgment bias decision‑making Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - investment choices - leadership decisions - personal life choices Key Concepts cognitive bias overconfidence critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What checks do you use for your decisions? - How can you seek contrary opinions? A Different Perspective Intelligence can mask blind spots, leading to overconfidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) ## Related quotes > [Good judgment is what you get from experience, which is what you have immediately after using poor judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-horning/good-judgment-is-what-you-get-from-experience-which-is-what-you-have/) [Jim Horning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-horning/) > [“As it turns out, my acceptance of the heroin addict’s invitation to party may have been a case of poor judgement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-austin/as-it-turns-out-my-acceptance-of-the-heroin-addict-s-invitation-to/) [emily austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-austin/) > [“I know it's only been three weeks, and although it's far too soon to judge, I can't help but feel that moving to Dubai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameera-al-hakawati/i-know-it-s-only-been-three-weeks-and-although-it-s-far-too-soon-to/) [Ameera Al Hakawati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ameera-al-hakawati/) > [The big honour of the big revolutions belongs to the high intelligence who design the revolution, not to the masses who support and participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-big-honour-of-the-big-revolutions-belongs-to-the-high/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“genius is much more than high intelligence, innate talent, extraordinary work ethic, or uncanny luck, but rather a composite manifestation; a synthesis of very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/genius-is-much-more-than-high-intelligence-innate-talent/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [The issue, as correctly emphasized by Carl Sagan, is the probability of the evolution of high intelligence and an electronic civilization on an inhabited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mayr/the-issue-as-correctly-emphasized-by-carl-sagan-is-the-probability-of/) [Ernst Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mayr/) > [There is no such thing as living alone, for all living is relationship; but to live without direct relationship demands high intelligence, a swifter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/there-is-no-such-thing-as-living-alone-for-all-living-is-relationship/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [High intelligence is to think the unthinkable; genius is to realize the very unexpected one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/high-intelligence-is-to-think-the-unthinkable-genius-is-to-realize/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The second cause of failure to enact good stems from conflict of intention. High intelligence leads to multiplicity of interest and a sharpened capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-second-cause-of-failure-to-enact-good-stems-from-conflict-of/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“character-driven idea fascinated Barrios. It suggested that genius is much more than high intelligence, innate talent, extraordinary work ethic, or uncanny luck, but rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/character-driven-idea-fascinated-barrios-it-suggested-that-genius-is/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [Speak the language of high intelligence, and thus you speak the language of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/speak-the-language-of-high-intelligence-and-thus-you-speak-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“A high degree of intelligence yes in no other creature in the natural world. That's why nature shuns us and why we subconsciously hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-high-degree-of-intelligence-yes-in-no-other-creature-in-the-natural/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [There is a plan to this universe. There is a high intelligence, maybe even a purpose, but it's given to us on the installment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-is-a-plan-to-this-universe-there-is-a-high-intelligence-maybe/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many persons of high intelligence have notoriously poor judgement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney J. 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