Education vs. Intelligence

Never mistake education for intelligence, you can be a PHD and an idiot. Degrees and education are a piece of paper. Character is the essence of real education.

This is a very sensitive and critical distinction between education and intelligence but its rarely understood. Academic qualifications like degrees, diplomas and certificates are often assumed to be equal to intelligence. Formal education gives us skills and knowledge, but not necessarily wisdom, critical thinking, emotional intelligence or intelligence in general.

Education vs. Intelligence...

1. Education as a Structured System

Education, in its formal definition, is an organized system meant to disseminate knowledge, cultivate certain skills and provide credentials that confirm one's academic prowess. It is based on curriculum, has assessments and is institutions-based, such as schools, universities, etc. Education is indeed important in forming people but is mostly centered around solving equations and perfecting your craft.

2. Intelligence as a Multidimensional Attribute

Intelligence, however, is not just academic success. It is the capacity to contemplate critically, reason, adapt, and solve problems, and make sound judgments. There are intellectual (IQ), emotional (EQ), creative, practical, and social forms of intelligence. A person with high intelligence might not have a degree but knows how to use analytical thinking, adaptability, and resourcefulness to go through life successfully.

The degree alone -why it is not enough

1. Lack of practical application

Some may possess multiple degrees but are unable to solve real-world problems. I can tell you that many well-educated people have absolutely ZERO common sense, street smarts, and ability to take what they know from a book and use it in a real-world scenario. A PhD business professor might be useless in managing a business, but success in the marketplace might be getting the business with a self-taught entrepreneur.

2. Character and integrity matter more.

Education is much more than just data. It's about developing one's character.'' Being educated does not equate to being moral, compassionate or wise. For instance, an educated individual can be dishonest, arrogant, or unable to balance interpersonal relations. True education is beyond the realm of degrees and certificates, it is more about honesty, humility and respect for others.

3. EQ versus IQ (Emotional Intelligence vs. Intellectual Intelligence)

Most people think intelligence means IQ, but it is EQ (emotional intelligence) that makes the difference between success and failure. EQ is made up of: self-awareness, empathy, communication skills, and resilience. Someone with high cognitive ability and low emotional ability, for example, might make a poor leader, team member, or friend, whereas someone with high emotional ability is effective in relationship-building and problem-solving.

4. A certificate is worth less than a diploma.

Learning is not over once you have earned a degree. We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing world and if you continue to learn only through schooling, you'll fall out of touch with the market. Intelligence takes curiosity, the ability to adapt and learn from experience, people and failures, characteristics that cannot be measured by a degree.

The Only True Measure of Education and Intelligence

Wisdom Over Knowledge..

Knowledge is knowing facts, but wisdom is to use them properly in daily life.

Honesty Over Credentials..

But while your degree might bring you instant credibility, it's your character and integrity that will keep it.

Action Over Theory...

Real intelligence is an action undertaken. YOUR APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING AND ADVERSITYHow you solve problems, make decisions and respond to adversity.

Human Connection Prioritized Over Academics...

It is the ability to relate with someone, motivate them, and lead them that matters more than any credential.

Final Thought

Education is one thing, but it is not always an indicator of intelligence or success. Academic accomplishment can open doors, but wisdom, emotional intelligence, and character alone take the world forward. A true educator reflects in both in a person that is, not only in his exams but also in their lives, decisions of his life and contribution to the society.