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About this quote

What does it mean?
Intelligence is measured by how one acts when lacking knowledge.
In plain terms
Smart people act well even when they do not know.
What can you take from it?
Behavior in uncertainty shows true intelligence.

Where it applies

  • education
  • psychology
  • leadership

Putting it to work

  • assess character
  • teach problem solving
  • study behavior

Questions to consider

  • What defines intelligence?
  • How do we react to ignorance?

Another view

It ignores the value of actual knowledge accumulation.

More from John Holt

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  2. All I am saying in this book can be summed up in two words: Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple, or more difficult. Difficult because to trust childre…

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  3. The anxiety children feel at constantly being tested, their fear of failure, punishment, and disgrace, severely reduces their ability both to perceive and to r…

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