The above clip gives a not-so-subtle reminder about the benefits of boasting.

Stephen Hawking, arguably one of the brightest people to ever live, not only refused the opportunity to provide his IQ score and claim himself among the smartest people in the world, but he went even further and dismissed the question all together.

On the surface, Hawking is rejecting the idea of boasting.

But, although that’s part of it, I think that analysis misses the bigger point – the unimportance of IQ.

Innate intelligence is useful to a certain extent, but it’s the actions and the way people use their intelligence that really matters.

It’s like speed on a football field. It’s better to be fast than slow, but the embarassingly immobile Tom Brady will be playing in his 8th Super Bowl this week.

-Brandon