“Aku nak jadi intellectual sikit…biler orang tanya aku bleh kasi opinion cekap cekap”

I’ll be one to say that that’s a freaking bold statement he’s got there. For a minute it kinda struck a chord in me. Because really, how does one define intelligence? Or rather, an intellect? What does intelligence revolve around? Book-smarts? Critical thinking? Arithmetic ability? Logical reasoning? All of them? A combination of either one, or a completely different set of variables bound by a completely different set of rules?

A rather provoking situation, I found myself in. So much for trying to sound like Yoda. Hey, he’s an intellect, okay. Well, at least he was supposed to be lah.

What does it mean to be an intellect? I mean, is being an intellect a verb rather than a noun? Through a few hours of conversation with any particular person [not necessarily continuous hours], it’s easy to determine the said person’s level of intelligence, no? Now, back to being intelligent, does knowing more means one is more intelligent? I suppose not.

I can speak English, and I know how to write things about Economics. He can speak Chinese and can write eloquently about cars. I can’t speak Chinese or write about cars, just as he can’t speak English or write about Economics. Thus we can see that neither one is more intelligent than the other. It’s called a difference of experience. I know some of the things you don’t, and you know some of the things that I don’t. It’s almost complementary, in fact. No, my friend, to know more about things that someone else regarding a certain subject does not mean you are more intelligent than they are. You’re just more knowledgeable, in that particular field, whereas in other fields, you might be completely clueless.
- Zig Ziglar, from the bestseller ‘See You At The Top’

That’s an excellent way to put it, Mr. Ziglar. You Sir, I acknowledge, are definitely an intellect. Why do I say so? I think it’s because of how I have seen the way he analysed a certain situation comparatively and put some serious thought into the matter before concluding it into a simple and powerful statement. That maybe my own definition, honestly, because I don’t know how YOU would evaluate one’s intelligence.

Let’s take a look back to our friend’s original statement.

“Aku nak jadi intellectual sikit…biler orang tanya aku bleh kasi opinion cekap cekap”

Now, do you give strongs opinions, because you WANT to make them, or because you feel strongly for the issue being discussed? For a brief moment I’m reminded of a favourite quote of mine;

“Purpose, Mr. Anderson. Without purpose there would be no reason for us to be here. What is your purpose, Mr. Anderson? Why are you here?”
- Agent Smith, The Matrix

It appears like we should take a quick peek into some reasons, so why don’t we? For formality’s sake, let’s impose a simple question: Why would you want to be an intellect? I was less than surprised to hear the very profound and honest response;

“Aku nak jadi intellectual utk boast jer…hehehe”

That be the reward for juicing out my brain for 30 minutes. How splendid.