Why are some people born with a great intelligence, but...?

Question

...unable to use it at full potential due to the lack of motivation with which they are also born, and that as result, achieve less in life than motivated unintelligent people?

Answer 1

Maybe intelligence and or motivation does not equate to having to achieve something in life.  Someone once said: "Intelligence is not so much the capacity to learn as the capacity to wonder."  I also remember someone who said: "It is better to have common sense without education than education without common sense."  So could it be because some do not posses common sense?  Common sense is seeing things as they are, and doing them as they should be done.

Answer 2

I've always had the impression that those who were born into poverty are more highly motivated in life because of their humble beginnings. They want to achieve all they can and more. That's based on ambition. Then there's the case of Sir Walter Scott who wrote novels, one after the other, simply because he needed the money to pull himself out of debt. That's based on necessity. So there are many reasons why an achiever tries so hard.

It's true too that usually one who is born into wealth and has everything given to them, then there's little purpose for them to strive so much. Many a poor artist painted in order to make ends meet.

What it comes down to, I feel, is a deep-seated need to express what is in the soul, a conviction that this is what your life is all about which compels you to go forward; in other words, "fire in the belly."

My fave author MacDonald-Bayne says briefly: "Intellect is on the surface and is of very little value in and by itself; that is why, though there are today a great many people in this world who have a good education, yet there are many who, having no education at all, have made a greater success of their lives. Perhaps they have not fully understood the truth, but they have struck upon the principle of feeling deeply; and behind their thinking was that strong feeling that impels success. A great many people who have a good education today are merely as it were jogging along, doing nothing worthwhile to make themselves successful or to bring themselves happiness; they are always thinking negatively, and if they are not thinking negatively they are always living on the surface and indulging in what we call light talk. They talk about the books they have read, the different societies they belong to, and the small things that people of their type do. But remember that deep down in you is the reality, the spice of Life; see that it comes up to the surface, and then your thoughts will be of the substance that makes real people in the world.

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Answer 3

what achievement in life is, is assumed in your question. it would need to be defined.

if einstein would have known his theories would have led to nuclear bombings, if he would have known he would have contributed to global warming, he may have kept his findings to himself.

would he still have achieved?

i don't think what you are talking about happens. karl marx lived and died poor. but didn't he achieve? so it is for many people.

i think it is likely that knowing can unmotivate because it means knowing many bad things from "success" or "achievement".

and they would be less likely to act immorally in order to obtain "success". and their definition of immoral would be more strict.

that's why many very intelligent people are artists. because creating art is never immoral.

but it is also much more complicated than that and probably to answer it properly we would need to talk about every single independent case your talking about, since there would probably be different reasons for each one.

but certainly intelligence sometimes means moderation, sometimes means not becoming rich on purpose.

most would say that the europeens were much smarter than american indians. because of the technology they had. though, the indians knew of moderation, not to waste, to take only what they needed.

it would seem that if we look at the hole we're in now, the indians were much smarter.

so i think part of your issue is that you are using a system of measurement, whatever you define "achievement" to be, as what should be a measurement of intelligence, they should correlate positively, whereas this is not the case, because "achievement" is not always the smart thing to do.

Answer 4

There is a difference between intelligence and wisdom.

As I see it,  intelligence is a capacity to solve problems,  and it is natural talent of which some people have more than others.  Wisdom is an understanding of the world and the human nature;  it is not innate,  but it is cultivated thru experience and reflection.  Then again,  you have to choose to cultivate your wisdom.

And that is your answer.  It is not that somebody chooses to stay dumb.  Some are distracted by a million other details.  Some are lying to themselves.  Some do not understand the efforts involved,  and do not act because they overestimate the price.  There are other reasons.

Answer 5

I think i may be one of those "intelligent" people who happened to have a S****y environment which hindered me from bringing up my full potential. In my case it was my environment that was the problem, not my motivation, but then again i am making excuses, maybe i do indeed lack motivation.

It really depends on your definition of "achieving". Usually, so-called "intelligent" people, have different opinions when it comes to success, i myself do not see why going to a good university and getting a good job is necessarily "achieving"; like how most people see it. Since most 'intelligent" people do not consider the "normal standard of success", they will not be motivated in that field and yes, achieve less.(in our eyes only) Ultimately, the only thing matters is the definition of "achieving" to them, not us.

To answer your question, some people are just born that way, there are some people with great intelligence with lacking motivation, and there are some other intelligent people with a lot of motivation. Just like there are unintelligent people who lack motivation and just like there are unintelligent people who are motivated.

Answer 6

Stars shine for several reasons;

1. Reflected light

2. Destiny and Timing

3. Preparation by parents (genetic planning)

4. Being in the right place at the right time

5. Your fairy godmothers are at your back every second of the way reminding you of the next step . In the past this is called the "presence of your muses"

I think number 2 and 4 are the most accepted reasons.  You have to be there at the right place and the right time and destined to lead the movement.  It would have to be written and foretold. Lol

Answer 7

Motivated people are not unintelligent  -  look how they know they must put their all into it to achieve success!!

I knew someone very clever who learnt things effortlessly, and who thought everything would always come so easily.  He never learnt that a little bit of application would make a huge difference, and no, he did not reach the potential we all expected

Answer 8

Intelligence and achievement are not correlated.  Achievement is something that people are born to do and they will be given the tools to do so.

Answer 9

After working retail for the last seven years I've

learned the most about human philosophy.



There are people who are and choose to be dumb.

Some people are proud of their dumbness.