If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. People tend not to grow without some form of challenge.
I’d rather they be smarter than me. That way I’ll learn things.
“Intellectual pedigree” is the most pretentious things I’ve heard in a while …
If I’m always THE smartest then who can I ever ask for help if I need it?
For most circumstance, I want to be mid-bell. In the workplace it means I can both learn from and teach others. Oftentimes, I’d prefer expertise in some areas (smartest in room) but lack of knowledge in other areas that I’m interested in but know there are others there who are experts and are willing to help me grow. In social situations I think it’s similar, though there I prefer to interact with people who are open, friendly and kind regardless of their intelligence.
