Life
15 Traits Of Highly Intelligent People
From being an introvert to staying up late, here’s 15 traits of highly intelligent people.
Marsha Gillis
10.10.19

It’s only human to have the desire to compare ourselves to others whether it be on looks, status, or intelligence. There are all sorts of factors that contribute to a person’s intelligence, but these 15 indicators might just prove you are way smarter than you think!

15) Not Just Book Smart

People with high intelligence know that some things just can’t be learned by reading books or attending school. Sure, good grades are an indication of intelligence, but there are other signs that don’t involve the traditional measurement in a school setting. Most of life’s wisdom comes through learning things first hand in real life experiences. Logic, reasoning, willingness to learn, and being ready to tackle each day with the desire to learn goes well beyond just book smarts.

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14) Knowing What You Don’t Know

The most intelligent people don’t have a problem admitting what they don’t know or are having a hard time understanding a concept. There are so many new things to be learned every day and highly intelligent people understand they have to learn from others to increase their own knowledge. They are willing to meet new people and aren’t afraid to listen to other people’s opinions and criticisms. They are open to new opportunities in the search for finding answers or a better way to solve a problem.

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13) Having An Insatiable Curiosity

Those with a high level of curiosity will often ask many questions. Their minds are active and observant, they are open to new ideas which will lead to new possibilities. While the saying goes, “curiosity killed the cat,” in the case of intelligence it’s quite the opposite. Most of the world’s greatest inventions were inspired by curiosity.

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12) Having An Open Mind

Intelligent people generally won’t close themselves off to new ideas or suggestions. They are willing to consider and look at other viewpoints and see the value to do so. They like alternative solutions and enjoy “out of the box” thinking. Opposing views don’t frighten them and they like to look at things from all angles. They know there is often more than one answer to solve a problem and like to look at all possible scenarios.

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11) Being Skeptical

Sometimes intelligent people can be accused of having a negative outlook, but it’s not because they are a “glass half empty” person, but because they want to test out different theories and think of new ideas or concepts that are based on facts and evidence, not just emotion. They understand this type of thinking allows people to communicate about different concepts and brainstorm.

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10) Asking Good Questions

The old saying goes, “there’s no dumb or wrong question to ask,” but highly intelligent people know there is a difference of just asking any question compared to asking the right question. The types of questions might challenge or dispute, but it is a desire to provide answers. Asking the right questions can help a person visualize new solutions to difficult problems either at home or in the workplace.

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9) Able To Adapt

Highly intelligent people can adapt quickly despite restrictions or complications. Being able to cope in any environment that can have various and unpredictable changes helps you to be able to communicate with those around you. It makes you a valuable asset in your career and helps you bounce back quickly from life’s adversities.

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8) Tendency To Be Self Critical

Highly intelligent people tend to critique their own work harshly and even argue with themselves in an effort to not make mistakes and do the best they can. Smart people will constantly question themselves to make sure they have done things correctly and are critical of their own flaws. They then to be hard on themselves and constantly look for ways they can improve.

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7) Staying Informed

Smart people like to stay informed of the world around them and in this day and age, there seems an unlimited amount of resources available for one to do so.

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6) A Worrier

Anxiety is a sign of high intelligence. Troubled minds are always searching and examining every possible outcome whether it’s good or bad and often replay scenarios in their minds. Their imaginative minds run wild and have a realistic take on the future to better prepare themselves for possible solutions in case a disaster heads their way.

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5) Hanging Out With Other Creatives

Smart people hang out with others who are creative. Whether it’s book smart or street smart, intelligent people hang out with other smart people to keep the juices flowing. Not only do they learn from one another, they challenge and motivate each other.

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4) Valuing The Concept Of Time

Valuing time is a mark of intelligence to use it wisely not allowing distractions to waste their time when working on projects. They have the ability to know what is helpful and what isn’t when they are working on something even if they don’t have an immediate solution. They avoid wasting time looking at things that won’t be part of the solution and know that pointless mental unrest only leads to negativity. They manage time wisely even knowing taking breaks is important to allow themselves to rest and recharge.

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3) Being Sensitive To People’s Emotions

Being able to almost sense what someone is feeling or thinking is another mark of high intelligence. Emotional intelligence is ranked higher than the average person due to being aware of other people’s feelings. Intelligent people like listening to other people to learn more about them.

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2) Being A Night Owl

Intelligent people are more likely to be night owls and might experience trouble sleeping because their mind is always working on something. Intelligent people have found they tend to work better at night. A study reported finding that people with a high IQ over 125 sleep around 12:30 to 8:00 am on weekdays and 2:00 am to 11:00 am on weekends.

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1) Being An Introvert

A lot of people with high intelligence value time spent alone with peace and quiet. Smart people like working alone without the distractions to interrupt them. Some of the world’s top inventors have been known to be introverts. They thrive well in undisturbed settings and need their own space to think and work.

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To learn even more traits of highly intelligent people, check out the video below.

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