# Why does intelligence beget arrogance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900 "2003-01-31T17:11:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yoyo3500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5daacb/32.png) [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/1 "2003-01-31T17:11:26Z")
Why does inteligence beget arrogance? ---
**Author:** ![TVAA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TVAA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVAA)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/2 "2003-01-31T17:14:58Z")
It’s spelled ‘intelligence’. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/3 "2003-01-31T17:15:41Z")
Pretty much anything you are good at can lead to arrogance. IF you are the smartest, fastest, best looking, best monopoly banker, whatever, you will tend to take pride in it. Unchecked this could lead to behavior that could be or be construed as arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/4 "2003-01-31T17:15:57Z")
It could be argued otherwise. Einstein was as smart as they come, but I’ve never heard it said that he was anything but a sweet old guy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/5 "2003-01-31T17:16:47Z")
Because till you are intelligent enough you are probably too dumb to embrace the concept of arrogance. That said I have seen film of male lions strutting their stuff such that I would label the behavior as arrogant even if the lion doesn’t strictly view it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/6 "2003-01-31T17:28:03Z")
I, for one, am not arrogant. I’m just better than you. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/7 "2003-01-31T17:32:42Z")
I believe the two traits are unrelated. I work with one person whose knowledge is quite limited, but has a unique ability to make people think he’s an expert and who is about the most arrogant person I know. I work with another who really is pretty sharp and is also very arrogant. As for myself, I’m not only sharp but also not arrogant at all and also incredibly modest. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/8 "2003-01-31T17:34:49Z")
If I should deign to answer your puerile question, I shant waste much of my valuable time. Harumph. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/9 "2003-01-31T18:15:50Z")
It’s not arrogance, this is well-deserved smugness. It derives from years of dealing first hand with salt-of-the-earth public (idiots) and the US govt. After a few years, you start to come to some simple conclusions. On the other hand, when you dwell in the upper stratosphere of thought, it gets very lonely having so few other like minds to share with; also, the more intelligent, the closer to the mind of the Creator. The closer the knowing of the Creator, the more humbled one is, and here we are again at the beginning. “There’s always something smarter than yourself.”~Merlin ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/10 "2003-01-31T18:18:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*I, for one, am not arrogant. I’m just better than you. \*\* Psssttt!!! That’s an opinion, whereas, I have scientific proof…I would show you…but…uh…I haven’t typed it up yet…😃 ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/11 "2003-01-31T18:40:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MSU 1978 \* > \*\*I believe the two traits are unrelated. \*\* Sorta. Arrogance is more directly related to confidence. And confidence is fueled by intelligence and awareness. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/12 "2003-01-31T18:45:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyan9 \* > \*\* And confidence is fueled by intelligence and awareness. \*\* Not necessarily. IMO confidence can come from a varity of factors. A kid who is told all his life that he is the best, is going to be confident. The same with someone who has done something repetatively. Also, in some cases, ignorance fuels confidence. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/13 "2003-01-31T18:51:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meatros \* > \*\*Not necessarily. IMO confidence can come from a varity of factors. A kid who is told all his life that he is the best, is going to be confident. The same with someone who has done something repetatively. > \*\* First, ignorance is lack of awareness. And that’s certainly what I wanted to include. Awareness is not the same as “correct awareness”. Just _your state of awareness_ ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/14 "2003-01-31T19:03:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyan9 \* > \*\*First, ignorance is lack of awareness. And that’s certainly what I wanted to include. Awareness is not the same as “correct awareness”. Just _your state of awareness_ \*\* I see. Okay, if that’s the case then I accept that. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/15 "2003-01-31T19:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mothchunks \* > It’s not arrogance, this is well-deserved smugness. It derives from years of dealing first hand with salt-of-the-earth public (idiots) and the US govt. \*\* Which begs the question…If you are so smart, why are you dealing first hand with “idiots” and the gub’ment:( and not fellow NASA engineers and the 😃 GOVERNMENT 😃 ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/16 "2003-01-31T19:26:01Z")
Arrogance could be mistaken for being dismissive. Its the “I know what I am talking about and its obvious to me (and others) that you dont” attitude. A form of intellectual prejudice or elitism. one does not beget the other. ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/17 "2003-01-31T19:28:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Why does inteligence beget arrogance? It begs the question, _does intelligence beget arrogance_? I’d argue (as some people have touched on) that the reverse is just as possible; a lack of intelligence can develop arrogance as a defense mechanism. To be fair, considerable knowledge might lead someone to place their self-esteem in their intellectual ability, and thus perceive a challenge to their intelligence as a challenge to their personal self-worth. But in truth, this too is a lack of intelligence, because the value of person does not simply rest in what he knows. Indeed, I’d have to conclude that intelligence, properly assembled and applied, leads to wisdom, and real wisdom is the opponent of arrogance. So arrogance is more likely due to a lack of wisdom than to a lack or abundance of intelligence. [Hopefully my sematics here make sense.] There is also the problem of interpretation. For example, many people perceive their opponents in religious matters to be arrogant, but in many cases it is simply because they lack the patience to justify their belief systems to a contrary individual. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/18 "2003-01-31T19:36:44Z")
I know someone who honestly thinks that he was offered the role of Messiah on this earth, but turned God down. I am not exaggerating. Yet, if you suggest that he even comes across as arrogant, he goes into a rage. Some people come off as arrogant when they are just insecure. One of my nicknames in high school was “Princess Rain-in-the-Face.” I found out years later that it was because I had my nose stuck up in the air. They assumed that I was arrogant when actually, I was too self-conscious and shy. There’s nothing wrong with being confident. It is an attractive quality. Even if you are a jerk, it is better that you are a confident jerk than an insecure one. I know all there is to know about arrogance.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/19 "2003-01-31T19:37:00Z")
Just as the person who considers themselves to be more intelligent than the person his is interacting with may lack the patience to use. small. words. all. the. time. I dont have that problem. But if I were amazingly more intelligent than everyone else, I would be justifiably annoyed at other people’s lack of comprehension. I dont think that would be arrogance. The only times I display what might be considered arrogance is if the SAME stupid person wants to make the same mistake twice. Then, I verbally lash out. But make sure I’m right when I do so, since if I were to ever tear someone a new one and be wrong about it, I would be labelled as an arrogant blowhard. ---
**Author:** ![yoyo3500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5daacb/32.png) [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900/20 "2003-01-31T20:00:23Z")
I think that lashing out because a person perceives another as stupid and he makes mistakes comes form arrogance. If a person had the opposite trait of arrogance, (shall we call it humility?), then would he ever become angry? No matter how intelligent a person is, there will always be someone with more intelligence than he (or she). Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-intelligence-beget-arrogance/151900.md?page=2)