Cleverness vs. Intelligence — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 15, 2024
Cleverness involves practical skills for problem-solving, while intelligence measures cognitive abilities to understand complex ideas.
Difference Between Cleverness and Intelligence
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cleverness is often associated with the ability to quickly adapt to situations and come up with effective, sometimes unconventional solutions. In contrast, intelligence refers to a broader cognitive capacity that includes reasoning, learning, and understanding complex concepts.
Cleverness is usually practical and situational, focusing on achieving specific objectives with agility and often creativity. Whereas intelligence is more about a general mental capability that encompasses a wide range of cognitive abilities, including the processing and application of information.
People often think of cleverness as a street-smart kind of resourcefulness that allows someone to navigate day-to-day challenges effectively. On the other hand, intelligence is seen as book-smart qualities that involve analytical thinking, abstract reasoning, and the ability to work with complex ideas.
Cleverness can be seen in quick fixes and sharp tactics that may not always follow conventional approaches. Conversely, intelligence typically involves deeper understanding and a methodical approach to problems, prioritizing accuracy over speed.
While cleverness might provide immediate solutions or ways to outmaneuver problems, intelligence is more about long-term understanding and depth of knowledge, often leading to more sustainable and comprehensive solutions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Ability to adapt and solve problems quickly
Capacity for learning, understanding, and reasoning
Focus
Practical solutions and immediate effectiveness
Broad cognitive abilities and complex thinking
Typical Application
Day-to-day problem solving and tactical maneuvers
Analytical and theoretical problem solving
Basis
Often based on experience and situational awareness
Generally rooted in formal education and study
Perception
Seen as street-smart and resourceful
Considered book-smart and analytical
Compare with Definitions
Cleverness
The ability to understand and solve problems in a new way.
His cleverness was evident in how he improvised with limited resources.
Intelligence
Cognitive skills involved in understanding complex ideas, making decisions, and remembering information.
His intelligence was crucial in strategizing for the company's future.
Cleverness
Skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, quick, or resourceful methods.
She demonstrated her cleverness by quickly finding a loophole in the rules.
Intelligence
High mental capacity for logical reasoning, abstract thinking, and problem-solving.
Her intelligence allowed her to solve complex mathematical problems effortlessly.
Cleverness
Resourcefulness in difficult or complicated situations.
Her cleverness saved the day when she repaired the car with only a few basic tools.
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information, and to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviors within an environment or context.
Cleverness
Practical knowledge that often includes a tactical element.
Her cleverness in negotiations often led to favorable outcomes.
Intelligence
The ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge
A person of extraordinary intelligence.
Cleverness
Mentally quick and original; bright
A clever student.
Intelligence
Information, especially secret information gathered about an actual or potential enemy or adversary.
Cleverness
Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands
A clever carpenter.
Intelligence
The gathering of such information
"Corporate intelligence relies on a slew of tools, some sophisticated, many quite basic" (Neil King and Jess Bravin).
Cleverness
Crafty; cunning
"a hard-working kid who rose from poverty, only to be duped by rich, clever bankers" (Jeff Goodell).
Intelligence
An agency or organization whose purpose is to gather such information
An officer from military intelligence.
Cleverness
Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful
A clever experiment.
Intelligence
An intelligent, incorporeal being, especially an angel.
Cleverness
Witty; amusing
An evening of clever repartee.
Intelligence
Of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn.
Cleverness
Characterized by cunning or shrewdness
Clever manipulation of public opinion.
Intelligence
The quality of making use or having made use of such capacities: depth of understanding, mental quickness.
Cleverness
New England Easily managed; docile
"Oxen must be pretty clever to be bossed around the way they are" (Dialect Notes).
Intelligence
(countable) An entity that has such capacities.
Cleverness
Chiefly Southern US Good-natured; amiable.
Intelligence
, often secret, about an enemy or about hostile activities.
Cleverness
The property of being clever.
Intelligence
(countable) A political or military department, agency or unit designed to gather information, usually secret, about the enemy or about hostile activities.
Cleverness
Something clever, or done cleverly.
Intelligence
(dated) acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
Cleverness
The quality of being clever; skill; dexterity; adroitness.
Intelligence
The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the understanding.
Cleverness
The power of creative imagination
Intelligence
The capacity to know or understand; readiness of comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.
And dimmed with darkness their intelligence.
Cleverness
Intelligence as manifested in being quick and witty
Intelligence
Information communicated; news; notice; advice.
Intelligence is given where you are hid.
Cleverness
The property of being ingenious;
A plot of great ingenuity
The cleverness of its design
Intelligence
Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any friendship with the favorites.
Cleverness
The quality of being quick to understand and act in a potentially advantageous way.
He used his cleverness to outmaneuver his competitors.
Intelligence
Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study, research, or experience; general information.
I write as he that none intelligenceOf meters hath, ne flowers of sentence.
Intelligence
An intelligent being or spirit; - generally applied to pure spirits; as, a created intelligence.
The great Intelligences fairThat range above our mortal state,In circle round the blessed gate,Received and gave him welcome there.
Intelligence
The division within a military organization that gathers and evaluates information about an enemy.
Intelligence
The ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
Intelligence
A unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy
Intelligence
Secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy);
We sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar coverage
Intelligence
New information about specific and timely events;
They awaited news of the outcome
Intelligence
The operation of gathering information about an enemy
Intelligence
The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
His intelligence was reflected in his rapid learning curve.
Intelligence
The measure of one's ability to perform well on cognitive tasks.
She scored exceptionally high on the intelligence test.
Intelligence
Mental acuity or sharpness.
His intelligence was apparent in his insightful comments during discussions.
Common Curiosities
Which is more valuable in everyday life, cleverness or intelligence?
Both are valuable but in different ways; cleverness is particularly useful for immediate, practical problem-solving, while intelligence is beneficial for deep understanding and complex decision-making.
What is the main difference between cleverness and intelligence?
Cleverness is about quick, effective problem-solving often in practical situations, whereas intelligence encompasses a broader range of cognitive abilities including the ability to understand and analyze complex ideas.
Do education and learning affect cleverness or intelligence more?
Education and learning have a more direct impact on intelligence, enhancing cognitive skills and knowledge, whereas cleverness can be influenced by experience and situational awareness.
What role does cleverness play in creative endeavors?
Cleverness often drives creativity by enabling individuals to think outside the box and apply unconventional methods to overcome challenges.
Can a person be clever but not intelligent?
Yes, someone can be clever, exhibiting resourcefulness and quick problem-solving, without necessarily having a high degree of formal intelligence or theoretical understanding.
Which is more important for academic success, cleverness or intelligence?
Intelligence is generally more important for academic success as it relates to understanding complex ideas and performing cognitive tasks.
Is intelligence measurable while cleverness is not?
Intelligence can often be measured through standardized IQ tests, while cleverness is more subjective and observed based on actions and outcomes in specific situations.
How do children exhibit cleverness compared to intelligence?
Children may show cleverness in playful and imaginative solutions to immediate problems, while their intelligence is more about learning and understanding new concepts.
Is there a cultural difference in how cleverness and intelligence are valued?
Yes, different cultures may value cleverness and intelligence differently depending on the societal emphasis on practical versus theoretical knowledge.
How do cleverness and intelligence interact in problem-solving?
In problem-solving, cleverness can provide quick, innovative solutions, while intelligence offers a more systematic and informed approach, often leading to thorough solutions.
How do cleverness and intelligence affect leadership?
Effective leadership often requires a combination of both cleverness for tactical decisions and intelligence for strategic planning and problem-solving.
Can cleverness be developed in the same way as intelligence?
Cleverness can be enhanced through experiences and learning from real-life situations, while intelligence is typically developed through formal education and cognitive training.
What are common misconceptions about cleverness and intelligence?
A common misconception is that cleverness and intelligence are the same; in reality, they pertain to different types of mental capabilities and applications.
How can someone improve their cleverness and intelligence?
Cleverness can be improved by engaging in varied practical experiences, while intelligence can be enhanced through formal education, reading, and cognitive exercises.
Can animals exhibit signs of cleverness and intelligence?
Animals can exhibit both; for example, some are clever in how they obtain food or escape predators, while others show intelligence through communication and social strategies.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
