John Stuart Mill on intelligence

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.

Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think.

Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, by whatever name it may be called, and whether it professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of men.

We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.

Albert Einstein1879–1955Out of My Later Years (1950), Ch. 51 “The Goal of Human Existence” (1943)

• God
• Thinking

Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

Ernest Hemingway1899–1961Marita in Ch. 11

• Happiness

An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.

Dwight D. Eisenhower1890–1969

• Clever Jabs