6 ways to become smarter

Who is an intellectual

Intelligence is not only high intelligence and brilliant education, it is also good breeding, the ability to live in harmony with oneself and others, in harmony with one's conscience, it is an active civic position, the concept of honor and dignity, the pursuit of truth.

In order to be educated and not to be below the level of the environment in which he fell, it is not enough to read only Pickwick and memorize a monologue from Faust. It requires continuous day and night work, eternal reading, study, will … Every hour is precious here …

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

And while someone quietly laughs at the intelligentsia because of their emphasized correctness and intellectuality, all over the world they talk about the Russian intelligentsia as a cultural phenomenon, a phenomenon that originated in the Russian Empire and laid the foundation for the isolation of a special, albeit very small, stratum of society in the rest of the world.

A nation that does not value intelligence is doomed to perish. The history of the Russian intelligentsia is the history of Russian thought.

D. S. Likhachev "The Book of Troubles"

A. P. Chekhov and D. S. Likhachev are considered to be true Russian intellectuals. In a letter to his brother Nikolai, young Chekhov cited a kind of code of an intelligent person, on which the following advice is largely based.

How to become more intelligent

1. Respect Others

Moreover, this respect should go beyond the observance of subordination and elementary rules of behavior. It is also respect for the feelings and desires of others, empathy, to some extent even sympathy. Yes, it’s not easy to force yourself to empathize with others if you’re not used to doing it. But it is work on oneself that distinguishes intelligent people.

They respect the human personality, and therefore they are always condescending, gentle, polite, compliant …

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

2. Don't lie

Remember, you are lying to yourself in the first place. Intelligent people classify as a lie a senseless drawing, flattery, dusting in the eyes. Any deception is unacceptable for them.

They are sincere and afraid of lies like fire. They do not lie even in trifles. Lying is offensive to the listener and vulgarizes the speaker in his eyes. They do not show themselves, behave in the street just like at home, do not let dust in the eyes of the younger brothers …

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

3. Be humble

Intelligent people have a slightly different perception of values. They are not vain.

They are not interested in such fake diamonds as dating with celebrities, the handshake of a drunk Plevako, the delight of someone they meet in Salon'e, fame for porter …

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

More often they are silent, prefer not to impose their opinion on others, especially when they are not asked. They do not confess in vain and do not seek the attention of others by humiliating themselves.

In this, it is definitely worth taking an example from the intelligentsia. Modesty and moderation will help you in many areas of life, you just have to try on and accept this philosophy.

4. Strive for aesthetics

The intellectual is an esthete. He admires the harmony of thought, talent, sophistication of images, grace and humanity. It is the intellectuals who are the main guardians of what we used to call "eternal values." Try to be like them. It is not at all necessary to have an advanced degree to understand and admire literature. You don't need to paint pictures yourself in order to get aesthetic pleasure from the works of artists.

They cultivate aesthetics in themselves. They cannot sleep in their clothes, see cracks with bugs on the wall, breathe trashy air, walk on the spattered floor, eat from a kerosene stove. They try to tame and refine the sexual instinct as possible.

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

5. Take care of your talent

Trust that you are talented. And take care of your gift. Intelligent people put talent above everything else, and this is what allows them to remain representatives of the "intellectual elite", to create and create.

If they have talent, they respect it. They sacrifice for him peace, women, wine, vanity … They are proud of their talent.

A. P. Chekhov letter to brother Nikolay, 1886

6. Strive for inner freedom

Someone generally puts the feeling of freedom at the forefront in the issue of intellectuals and intelligence. Indeed, an intelligent person is free from a mass of things, the dependence on which others experience.

The main principle of intelligence is intellectual freedom, freedom as a moral category. An intelligent person is not free only from his conscience and from his thoughts.

DS Likhachev “On the Russian intelligentsia. Letter to the editor , 1993

Just freedom from other people's opinions, authorities, idols and standards can bring you one step closer to real intelligence.

Intelligence is a difficult path that does not suit everyone. Not everyone is ready to "squeeze a slave out of himself, drop by drop" every day. But there is no doubt that those who take this path receive something immeasurably more than just a set of positive qualities.