Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
You can never think too little about human intelligence, especially your own.
In plain terms
Underestimate human intelligence at your own risk.
What can you take from it?
Assume people are smarter than you think.

Where it applies

  • negotiation
  • management
  • communication

Putting it to work

  • respect others intelligence
  • avoid condescension
  • listen carefully

Questions to consider

  • Do you underestimate others?
  • Why is your own intelligence hard to gauge?

Another view

Sometimes people are not intelligent in the ways you expect.

More from Henry Adams

  1. I have written too much history to have faith in it; and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, I am inclined to agree with him.

    Permalink to quote #36
  2. Man is an imperceptible atom always trying to become one with God.

    Permalink to quote #38
  3. Henry James chews more than he bites off.

    Permalink to quote #35

Related quotes

  1. I don't think you can ever count somebody like her out. Because she may appear one way, but she's very clever.

    Britney SpearsBritney Spears quote #32
  2. Le vrai moyen d'etre trompe, c'est de se croire plus fin que les autres.

    Francois de La RochefoucauldFrancois de La Rochefoucauld quote #42
  3. They hate you if you're clever, and they despise a fool.

    John LennonJohn Lennon quote #48