Why Highly Intelligent People Ruin Their Lives

The invisible tool brilliant minds miss: the critical difference between being intelligent and being wise.

We need more than just intelligence to live a fulfilled life.

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 intellect and intelligence.

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, where I learned the core difference between the two.

Still, I stood there, head up, 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 fell into stunned silence. Then came 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...”

But before I could even complete the sentence, they’d made up their minds. It was as if I had waved a conductor’s baton. In perfect unison, bruised 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 invisible sword of determination: “Intelligence raises the standard of living. It’s thanks to education and intelligence that we live in a beautiful city, filled with amenities and comforts. It’s thanks to intelligence that we drive safe cars, live in comfortable homes, and work in plush offices.”

The mood shifted. 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 of mind or deal with life’s challenges. For that, you need intellect. Intellect is the capacity to govern the mind — and it’s the only true gateway to wisdom.”

Emotion and Intelligence

I gave examples of highly intelligent people who had no control over their temper. Doctors battling addiction. Highly educated 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 but completely lacked the intellect to restrain his destructive personal cravings at night.

There was one man in the audience who stood out. He couldn’t sit still. Agitated and fidgety, he spent the time doodling rather than listening. Suddenly, he blurted out in a thick, arrogant, 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 wisdom and happiness. Only the intellect has the power to observe and manage the mind’s anxiety, stress, and anger — and bring you peace. So, it’s in your interest to cultivate both.”

The hot-headed Italian promptly stood up, muttered profanities, and stormed out.

His reaction proved the very point I was trying to make:

Intellect is invisible to one who relies solely on intelligence.

Intellect stands tall in the face of emotion, acting as the steering wheel that keeps a powerful mind from crashing. While intelligence gives us the capacity to learn and achieve, it is entirely defenceless against a wave of anxiety, anger and pride.

It can build a brilliant career, but it cannot govern a turbulent feeling. Ultimately, highly intelligent people ruin their lives because they confuse the power of their engine with the control of the wheel. They master the world around them, yet remain completely powerless over the world within.

Thank you for reading.

Till next time,
Be Well,
Meredith ♾️ The Elder Sage