9 Things Smart People Try Not To Do

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I'll name a few and see if you can say what they have in common: Mikhail Lomonosov, Albert Einstein, Dmitri Mendeleev, Steve Jobs, Sofia Kovalevskaya, Marie Curie...

Did you guess? That's right, these people are some of the smartest people on earth!

When we talk about incredibly smart people, we don’t just mean high IQ scores, well-read people, or academic achievements and awards. We’re talking about how they weave intelligence into the very fabric of their lives.

How they turn ordinary opportunities into extraordinary achievements – and in the process, push boundaries, challenge convention, and change the world.

What exactly sets them apart? What do they do? And, more importantly, what don’t they do?

Let's take a look at 9 things incredibly smart people never do.

1. They never ignore the ability to listen and observe.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of extremely intelligent people is that they are amazing listeners.

They don't just nod while you talk. They absorb, process, and respond. Your words don't fall on deaf ears; they're intentionally listening.

They often say little and are content to simply observe what is happening around them. It is all about their desire to gather information. For incredibly intelligent people, knowledge is everything. This is because they have a much higher level of intellectual curiosity than the average person.

2. They never stop asking questions

Read any story about the people mentioned earlier and you will see a common thread: they always ask questions.

And it's not just any old boring question; they like to ask thought-provoking questions that really go beyond the surface. In fact, that's why they are sometimes considered "weird"; sometimes, the questions they ask are ones that wouldn't even occur to the average person.

You see, these endless questions stem from an insatiable curiosity. They just love learning new things, so they keep pushing, researching, and studying the topic that interests them.

3. They don't take things at face value.

For incredibly intelligent people, the pursuit of knowledge is active, not passive. What does this mean?

These are the people who don't take it at face value, they ask why someone holds a certain point of view, why someone thinks a certain statement is true, etc.

This is exactly how incredibly smart people operate – critical thinkers who need to know the basis of everything!

4. They never assume they know everything.

Truly intelligent people, because they are truly intelligent, are very aware of their own thought processes. They are very aware of how much they know and what they don't know.

They also realize that the minute they think they know everything, they stop learning. That's why they think there's so much in the world they don't know.

5. They never reject the ideas of others.

They really strive for diversity of thought. Their openness is incredible!

They understand that everyone, regardless of their intellectual ability, has something valuable to contribute. They listen to different ideas, consider them, and use them as stepping stones to a broader understanding.

Sure, they may be the smartest person in the room, but that doesn't mean they can't learn from those less smart.

6. They never rest on their laurels.

Smart people are always on the move. They read, study, and research day after day. They are driven by a constant thirst for knowledge and are always looking to expand their horizons.

This endless desire to grow and learn keeps them from getting stuck in a rut.

Case in point: everyone has a neighbor who is well over 80 but still sane. Their love for learning has continued into old age!

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7. They never resist change or challenges.

Now you know that incredibly smart people are driven by intellectual curiosity. So if you give them a challenge – a puzzle, a problem to solve – they will say, “Challenge accepted!”

The same goes for their attitude to change. Many of us would be scared at the thought of the great unknown, but they would be excited.

Why? Because it's something new to learn!

They also have adaptive thinking skills that allow them to make the best of a situation. So, even if they fail at something, they can easily pick themselves up, learn from their mistakes, and try again.

For them, life is simply an exciting journey consisting of countless trials and errors!

8. They never ignore their intuition.

Apart from their excellent adaptive thinking skills, their intuition is another element they use to move forward.

This may seem counterintuitive; after all, don't intelligent people act according to logic and reason?

Well, yes, but they also pay attention to their intuition. Because they understand that intuition is an inner knowing, an indefinable sum of their knowledge and experience.

Simply put, they know that the subconscious mind is as powerful and useful as the conscious mind.

9. They never stop dreaming

Last but not least, incredibly smart people are dreamers. They have ambitions, goals, and visions that they strive to achieve.

They are not afraid to dream and strive. This is what keeps them motivated and focused, always striving to do more.

Incredibly intelligent people are distinguished not only by their enormous intellectual abilities, but also by their views and habits.

As you can see, it's not just about what they do, but also what they choose not to do. They are conscious of their actions and live with full intention - to grow, develop and make a positive contribution to society.

What else would you add? Share in the comments!