7 signs that someone is not very smart, even though they sound confident.
Speaking of Donald Trump and others who think in black and white logic.
They talk loudly. They talk a lot. And they talk with conviction. But the question is: is there any substance behind the words? Many confuse volume and charisma with depth and insight. Real intelligence rarely requires grand gestures.
The news editors at The Expert Editor have collected seven classic warning signs that reveal the difference between those who sound smart – and those who actually are.
1. They never ask questions
People who really understand something also know how much they don't know yet. They are curious and ask questions, not to impress but to learn. The confident bluffer rarely asks – he "already knows everything".
2. They refuse to admit mistakes
Even when reality knocks, they don't open the door. For them, it is more important to appear unwavering than to become wiser. Intelligent people change their minds when the facts change. The stubborn ones change the subject the most.
3. Everything has a “simple solution”
The world is complex, but those who only scratch the surface love simple answers. “You shouldn’t overthink it,” often says someone who hasn’t thought much at all. Skilled thinkers embrace nuance and understand that many questions lack a single right answer.
4. They talk a lot but say little
Some dominate every conversation—and yet you leave wondering, “What did he really say?” It’s often empty rhetoric in a fancy package. Asking them to explain what they just said often gets them stuck.
5. They throw around references—without understanding them
Quoting Einstein or citing a TED Talk doesn’t automatically make you smarter. If you don’t understand the source you’re referencing, it’s just a decoration. Intelligent people don’t use references as props—they use them as tools.
6. They believe that assertiveness is truth
Just because someone says something with conviction doesn’t mean it’s true. The Dunning–Kruger effect shows that the less people know, the more they often overestimate their own knowledge. The truly knowledgeable, on the contrary, are more cautious – precisely because they know the complexity of the subject.
7. They hate criticism – and love echo chambers
Smart people seek opposition because they learn from it. The confident – but not necessarily the smart – thrive best surrounded by back-stabs. Criticism is perceived as an attack and anyone who disagrees is quickly labeled as “negative”.
There’s often not much behind all the talk and assertiveness. So the next time you meet someone who “seems smart”, listen not just to how they say things – but to what they say. And perhaps more importantly: what they don’t say.
https://axiom1b.blogspot.com/2025/01/wealth-power-after-reading-book-wealth.html
