Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share Signs That Someone Is Extremely Intelligent

People Share Signs That Someone Is Extremely Intelligent
person playing magic cube
Make us preferred on Google

When looking at a resume, it's easy to understand how prospective employers will assume someone is very intelligent based on their education and past experience.

But one shouldn't only assume someone's intelligence based on what they read.

More often than not, one can tell rather quickly that someone possesses above-average intelligence, based on how they speak, how they behave, or other telling details.


Redditor PadWanKenobi was curious to hear what people felt were the tell tale signs they were in the company of a possible genius, leading them to ask:

"What’s a sign of extremely high intelligence?"

Instant adapability

"Ability to intuitively and quickly understand complex systems and how lots of parts relate in a coherent whole."

"Like I work with some people who just keep tons of concepts in their head and easily integrate new information into their understanding of those concepts."

"They immediately know what questions they should be asking to better understand."

"And these are things they're currently working on, not like things they spent time studying in school over years."

"They just have a very strong ability to synthesize new information into their understanding."

"I sit in meetings distracted and confused having forgotten what we talked about in the previous meetings, and these folks just consistently have a solid handle on everything."- Ok-Control-787

Innate Problem Solvers

"They know when not to solve a problem."

"This took me a while to understand but the smartest people I know do this."

"It could be a really simple thing like ignoring emails from people asking for help."

"The supervisor or boss might have a quick and easy solution for the situation but instead of just handing it to the person that asked they let them figure it out on their own."

"They know who they can do this with and when to do it."

"If they did that with all of their underlings it would just create a mess."

"Another example that I can think of is planned chaos."

"Some people can predict exactly where things will go wrong and they could fix it before it creates a problem."

"They don't because nobody ever notices what's going on in the background when things are working perfectly."

"Once things fails then everybody notices and if you are the one person that fixed it you become the hero."

"They can also use then chaos to reach a goal they couldn't get before if things were working correctly."

"There's many examples of this in every day life that I didn't see before until I realized what was happening."- atapes

Giphy

You know what they say about people with small hands

"If your hand is smaller than your face."- FallofTheKnight

The all knowing glow.

"When someone asks you a question and you push your glasses up while light comes out of it and covers your eyes for some reason."- JonEregor

Those giveaway behavioral quirks

"Wearing glasses and saying things like 'ah yes', and 'I see' while you pensively rub your chin."- iuytrefdgh436yujhe2

Thinking Reaction GIF by ABC TV + IVIEWGiphy

Encouraging others

"When they explain something they make the people around them feel smarter, not dumber."- redkat85

Being one step ahead.

"The capacity to understand complex things, see patterns where regular people don't."- Ostepop234

"They have this tendency to make you go 'Ohhh, why didn't I think of that?' when listening to them talk."- did_it_forthelulz

Why Didnt I Think Of That Cillian Murphy GIFGiphy

An endless love of learning

"A passion for knowledge and expanding understanding of complex concepts."

"The plumber can be just as insightful as the scholar."- KatatoniK94

Some people like to flaunt it.

"Your username is EitiFrie."

"Jk."- EitiFrie

Take your pick...

"Talking to yourself while constantly working out things in your mind."

"Asking many questions - curiosity."

"Having anxiety and depression."

"Not having motivation to try once you fail something - you’re used to 'getting' things immediately."- I_Just_Want_2_Live

Stressed Over It GIF by HULUGiphy

Those who really hear you.

"Being a good listener."- IMeanHeck

Careful considerations.

"They actually think logically about conspiracy theories without completely believing them."- skyistootired

No one likes a "know it all"

"Knowing when to say 'I don’t know'."- CattDawg2008

"Knowing when to give up in an argument."- ShauryaP

Give Up GIF by TLC EuropeGiphy

A nose for trouble...

"Depression."

"Hopeless."

"Understanding exactly how doomed we are."

"The next 50 years are going to be brutal."

"21/22 was just a warm-up."- hopeianonymous

It's not always easy.

"Unfortunately Schizophrenia and a ADHD."

The ususal...

"The most intelligent people have ."

"A good general knowledge."

"idk but speak 2 or more languages."

"Have an understanding of crypto and programming."

"And finally know how to fix a car."

"That is the most ultimate smartest person, we should be able to all agree on this."- hehehhe_

The company they keep

"Discreetly distancing themselves from raucous buffoons."- Chameleon777

Anthony Anderson Reaction GIF by ABC NetworkGiphy

Of course, one shouldn't always be fooled by what they see.

As many people are masters at appearing much smarter than they are.

In fact, one important sign of super intelligence is being able to separate those who appear smart, from those who actually are.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

CVS Warns Pet Owner They'll Lose Access To Dog's Medical Records Once He Turns 18 And Is A 'Legal Adult'—And Here Come The Jokes
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images; @AutumnTweets/X

CVS Warns Pet Owner They'll Lose Access To Dog's Medical Records Once He Turns 18 And Is A 'Legal Adult'—And Here Come The Jokes

CVS pharmacies recently announced they'll begin carrying pet medications at their locations, but it seems like they haven't quiiiite worked out the kinks for the new service.

X user and pet owner @AutumnTweets has gone viral after sharing how her first experience with CVS pet meds has gone. And in a word, it's hilarious.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chelsea Handler; Joe Rogan
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

Chelsea Handler Sounds Off After Learning Massive Sum Joe Rogan Is Making For His Podcast This Year—And She's Spot On

Forbes magazine recently released its list of the "Highest-Paid Podcasters of 2026." To promote the article, the magazine shared a teaser on Instagram listing the top 20 and their estimated earnings.

Topping the list was conspiracy theory and medical misinformation promoting comedian turned UFC broadcaster and podcaster Joe Rogan at $82 million for his The Joe Rogan Experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ken Jennings
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images

'Jeopardy!' Host Clarifies His Stance On Trans Rights After Snarky Comment On Social Media Sparks Debate

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings asserted his support for the transgender community after a joke he made on BlueSky attracted attention from conservative news outlets that spun his remarks to cast him as anti-trans.

The controversy began after Jennings posted about a game he plays with his wife while completing Spelling Bee, one of the games published by The New York Times. Although some followers joined in, many others criticized Jennings for promoting a Times product.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ireland Baldwin (left) spoke out after Perez Hilton's (right) hospitalization.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Comedy Central; Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Grant A Gift for Autism

Ireland Baldwin Shares Complicated Feelings Around Perez Hilton's Hospitalization After He 'Publicly Humiliated My Family For Years'

Ireland Baldwin is speaking out after Perez Hilton's hospitalization, sharing mixed emotions while reflecting on the years she says the celebrity gossip blogger publicly targeted her family. The response comes after Hilton was hospitalized following a distressing TikTok livestream on August 4 that left many viewers alarmed.

Deputies were dispatched to the 48-year-old's Florida home, where he was later hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act, which allows authorities to temporarily detain someone for a mental health evaluation if they are believed to pose a danger to themselves or others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leon Gillespie as the Grim Reaper
@Ohgoditsliz/YouTube

Man Goes Viral After Getting Arrested For Standing On Hospital Roof Dressed As Grim Reaper And Staring At Patients

In an overuse of free will and dark humor, 26-year-old Leon Gillespie was arrested and charged a £200 fine for appearing as the Grim Reaper on the roof of the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in St. Asaph, Denbighshire.

Though Gillespie attempted to plead that he had appeared as a black "crow" on the roof of the hospital, the judge at Llandudno Magistrates in North Wales wasn't convinced, as the costume included a hood and a long blade, looking like the standard Grim Reaper with its scythe.

Keep ReadingShow less