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Question: Is there a difference between being smart and wise!?
also, is it possible to be smart, but in a different sense!? I heard there were several different types of "smartness" (verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, social-interpersonal, & intra-personal)!.

I find that if I teach myself something I'm better at it!. I'm good at english and reading and stuff!. But I find that "book smarts" aren't exactly my forte!. I have a hard time understanding simple directions a lot of the time (dyslexia) and have a hard time getting to places on time (people often see me as a flake or ditz)!. But if I walk into a room, I can immediately tell what emotions people are feeling, and I'm always analyzing myself and others (like I know why I or other people do the things they do), am always thinking about what's beyond this world, and in a lot of ways I feel more "wise" than I do "smart"!. Music seems to affect me really deeply too!. If I listen to a sad song, I literally feel a heaviness on my chest, if it's a happy/energetic song, I'm bouncing off the walls!. The tune and everything really gets to me!.

Is it possible to be more wise than smart or to be smart in a different way!? Because I've always felt different from other people!. People have often thought of me as a ditz, but I feel like I'm intelligent but on a different level, maybe a deeper level!? Like I'm more aware of things such as who I am as a person, why people do things, life/experiences, etc!.!.!. What do you all think!? Sorry to keep rambling!.

Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Yes, there is a huge gaping hole between intelligent and wise!. This is a little complicated to explain so bear with me!.!.!. I'll try to explain my understanding of it!.

I find that there are these categories of intelligence!.!.!.
1!. street smarts
2!. common sense
3!. book smarts
4!. emotional intelligence
5!. wisdom
6!. natural intelligence

So lets look at what each of these are and hopefully this will explain to you what kind of intelligence you have!. From what I read, I believe you are likely emotionally intelligent, have common sense, and perhaps some street smarts!. You are wise if you know how to use them!.

Street Smarts - Practical knowledge, especially concerning human behavior!.

Common Sense - Practical judgment or understanding of something, arrived at by taking other factors into account!.

Book Smarts - Quickness and ease in learning by provided (possibly complex) information!.

Emotional Intelligence - A combination of various skills such as self awareness, self control, and empathy!. (empathy is being able to place your self in someone else's shoes)

Wisdom - The trait of utilizing, combining, or applying knowledge, experience, common sense, understanding, and insight!.

Natural Intelligence - Has an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work, strong individuality and imagination!.

So!.!.!. based on that, is that a little more clear what the differences are!? People fall into different categories!. They can be in more than one!. They may be all of them, though those people are rare!. Wisdom itself doesn't require knowing what e=mc2 is!. It does however, require that you are in multiple categories and are able to use those for the benefit of yourself and others!.

What you are describing of yourself is empathy!. Emotional intelligence!. Empathetic people can accurately perceive emotions in others as well as sense what others are feeling!. These people are generally good at reading facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, and other signs of emotion!. Empathetic people recognize what others are feeling without being told these emotions!.

Now for example!.!.!. should you combine emotional intelligence with natural intelligence and you are merging the ability to feel what other people feel with the ability to create!. Music, poetry, art!.!.!. all of these combine these two forms of intelligence to present something to the world that causes other people to feel what they feel!. That evokes certain emotions, be it anger, fear, love, sadness, joy!.!.!.

Did you know that the most successful people tend to be more emotionally intelligent than the average person!? Being book smart is good!.!.!. but it isn't the make or break you!. It helps!. It makes life easier!. But being ignorant of book smarts doesn't mean you aren't intelligent!.

Below I added some interesting reading on empathic people and emotional intelligence!. Thank you for posting this question, it was quite an interesting read!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

We are all smart in differing and various ways!.

Being wise has to do with reacting to knowledge in the
most moral way (wise in both actions and thoughts),
knowing just the right thing to do in situations and
what the true priorities are - it takes a lot more to
be wise than to be smart I'd say!Www@QuestionHome@Com

What you describe are actually two different intelligences; one analytical, and one emotional!. Both are valid, neccessary parts of our Being!.You seem to have a greater amount of emotional intelligence, and there's nothing wrong with that!. Be glad of who you are!. I bet you make a great friend!.With time, this intelligence will turn into wisdom of people and emotion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, wisdom comes with experience or the ability think as though one has experience!. Smart is the ability to think logically and solve problems in a straight forward way!. Oh well, that's what I think right now, but it does not seem like a wise or even very smart answer!. Sorry, best effort at the moment!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Put it this way, smart is knowing information, wisdom is knowing what to do with it!. For example, sometimes you will know more on a given subject than say, your teacher or boss, but it can be wise not to let them know that!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think of smart as being intelligent!. Knowing facts and understanding information!. I think of wise as making good choices!. You can be both or you can just be one or the other!. Being wise is really up to you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

there is def a difference between smart and wise!. smartness is knowledge!. wisdome, is having knowledge and know how to use it correctly!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Smarts can be learned!.
Wisdom - is knowing how to use the smarts!.

That's why some smart people are really dumb, its cuz they know about something but just cant put it to proper use!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

My belief is this:

A smart man can know he is smart!.
A wise man can only be told he is wise!.

Wisdom, like respect, must be earned!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There is a big difference between smart and wise!. Smart is usually associated with book knowledge !. !. !. a smart person is usually someone who reads a lot of books and goes to school for many years!. However, many of these people, also do not understand worldly things!. Some of them pretend that they do!. From what you write, you understand in a much more profound and deeper way, than do people who have just "surface" knowledge!. This deeper knowing is the beginning of wisdom!.

"Knowing" isn't just about memorization or doing good on tests!. You're right, there are many kinds of smart people!. Sometimes, people call these abilities: "talents"!. For example, if a person has a musical talent, he or she is a smart person!. Because it requires a great deal of intelligence, imagination, depth of feeling, in order to perform music beautifully!. Www@QuestionHome@Com