Many commentators make reference to “smart” people. A “smart” person is one who has a superior grasp of a subject, and it usually incorporates some form of academic discipline. A polymath person is smart in multiple subjects.

What people seem to overlook in their sycophantic reverence for smart people is the quality of those said people. The word “smart” in the context of this piece is an adjective describing an advanced personal mental capability. What are poorly understood, or possibly even ignored are the moral qualities attached to that “smart” person’s behavior.

Do we really want to revere and bow down to “smart” people who happen also to be tyrants, murderers, liars, cheats, megalomaniacs, ruthless, selfish, greedy, mean, harsh, violent, foul mouthed, irreverent, filled with hubris etc.? Or, would we prefer those who are loving, kind, gentle, patient, generous, and without deceit? What do you think of when you think of a “smart” person?

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