With Intelligence You Earn a Living, but with Intellect You Gain a Life

Intelligence gives you the ability to earn wealth, but not the capacity to gain peace and happiness.

One of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do was stand in front of a room full of highly intelligent professors at the University of Western Australia and speak about the difference between intelligence and intellect.

I mean, who was I? I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t have a degree in science, engineering, or business management. All I had done was study ancient philosophy in India for six years and learnt the difference between the intellect and intelligence.

Still, I stood there, head up and shoulders back, and asked them to keep an open mind. And, for a brief moment, they did.

But the shutters came down the moment I said,

“Education systems around the world focus on gaining intelligence, rather than teaching students how to think.”

The auditorium went into a stunned silence.

Then came the murmurs:

“How dare she? Of course we teach students how to think.”

Undaunted, I continued.

“Our education system is designed to teach students how to earn a living, not how to gain a life.”

That was it. It was as if I had waved a conductor’s baton because in perfect unison, wounded egos leaned back, folded their arms and furrowed their brows.

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” they grumbled.

Intelligence Isn’t Intellect

I carried on, cutting through the resistance with the sword of knowledge:

“Intelligence raises the standard of living. And it’s thanks to education and intelligence that we live in a beautiful city, filled with amenities and comforts we can enjoy. It’s thanks to intelligence that we drive safe cars, live in comfortable homes, and work in plush offices.”

The mood softened. Disapproving heads began to nod.

“Yes, yes… that’s true,” they agreed.

Then I threw a spanner in the works:

“But no amount of intelligence can raise the standard of life. Intelligence won’t help you build a strong character. It won’t help you gain peace or deal with life’s challenges. For that, you need intellect.”

That’s when more than half the room looked ready to walk out.

Emotion and Intelligence

I gave examples of highly intelligent people who had no control over their temper. Of Doctors addicted to drugs. Of educated people who were alcoholics. Brilliant minds who took offence easily and collapsed at the first sign of adversity.

I mentioned a neurosurgeon who performed delicate operations by day and spent $50,000 a night on cocaine and prostitutes. Brilliant, yes—but no intellect to restrain his cravings.

There was one man in the audience who stood out. He couldn’t sit still. Agitated, fidgety, doodling, not listening.

Suddenly, he blurted out in a thick Italian accent,

“So what’s your point?”

I answered,

“My point is: Intelligence gives you the means to earn wealth. But it cannot give you the means to gain happiness. Only the intellect can control stress, anxiety, anger—and bring you peace. Therefore, it’s in your interest to cultivate both.”

The hot-headed Italian promptly got up, muttered profanities, and stormed out. I later found out he was a scientist from the CSIRO. My only regret? That I didn’t keep the picture he doodled. It was a masterpiece—chaotic, wild, erratic. A perfect portrait of a highly agitated mind.

It just goes to show, intellect is invisible to the man who has none, even the most intelligent one.

If you have any questions about intelligence vs intellect, I’d only be too happy to help.

Till next time,

Meredith, The Elder Sage