Personally, I believe there is intelligence as in logic and working things out by trying different ways of solving problems, the more ideas and ways of finding solutions in the shortest time the more intelligent the person.

There is knowledge as in reading the dictionary and learning all the words and understanding all their meanings.

Then there is memory as in reading the dictionary, learning all the words but not understanding all their meanings.

The person who has all 3 is the genius.

I don't know my IQ but I would guess somewhere a little bit above the average in my country.

When I was young if I had to choose to be the smartest person in the room or the dumbest I would have said the smartest but as an old person I would choose to be the dumbest in a room full of smart people because there is something for me to learn.

I have been in both situations but both at the wrong ages.

The most frustrating is seeing the obvious in a room full of idiots therefore I would rather be the idiot because as the saying goes: ignorance is bliss.

Generally though I know jack shit.

Intelligence is nothing more Than the willingness to learn you don't need a phd, to do that! most people today are ignorant of whats going on around them! they receive their news from what friends or relatives and tv say without ,investigating anything ! To lazy i guess ! Their attitude and reponse is , why worry it doesnt affect me ,Or i don't want to hear about it ! But eventually it will affect all, Then those will be the people that cry oh i didnt know ,When something major does happen ! Where the intelligent ones that investigated ! Will be the ones prepared !

Our intelligence increases as we gain more knowledge from asking questions, from reading, traveling and schooling. Intelligence is a product of education, environment and experiences. Intelligence should not be confused with wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to know right from wrong and how to make the right choices.

Hello everybody, how are you? I am new so I may not know all the rules, therefore, please forgive if I didn't do this right.
But I like your question.
What is intelligence?
I personally think it's simply the ability to tell what is right from wrong.
Intelligence is a congenital ability not unlike breathing, eating, and you know what... And it can get better in time with experience, education, and practice. The more data, the more information, and the more practice, drills and training, the better it gets.
"smart" is the application of this ability. To make better choices at the right time, at the right place, with the right person, for the right occasion.
What do you think?

I noticed that a few of the comments included the word “wise”. Are wisdom and intelligence the same?
I would say no. Wisdom is obviously based in knowledge and obtaining and utilizing knowledge is obviously a part of intelligence.
Yet we have all (hopefully) met those without any “real” education or even a sense of a keen intellect that were wise. Able to see through some of the cloudiness of life to find a truth not easily possessed.(Which is how I would define wisdom)
And as I read through the comments it seems we have all touched on that in some way albeit through different lenses so to speak.
Of the two which is more desirable, wisdom or intelligence? Differences? Pro/Con

According to psychologists there are 9 types of intelligences but rarely does one person possess them all:

musical-rhythmic bodily-kinesthetic (dancers, acrobats, athletes)
verbal-linguistic logical-mathematical
visual-spatial naturalistic (very in touch with the natural world)
interpersonal intrapersonal (communication with body language including facial expressions?)
existential (moral or spiritual)

Signs of intelligence are: able to set goals, persevere until goal is achieved, defer gratification, plan ahead for the future, memory, learn from mistakes, exercise good judgment, recognize consequences to actions, curiosity and eagerness to learn, live a constructive rather than destructive life.

Someone who goes through at least two years of university has to exhibit all of the above to some degree so level of education does indicate intelligence. However, there are educated people who are naive so they may appear stupid. I know a fisherman/broker who has a Grade 6 and can't read but he's shrewd and can read people so he appears to be intelligent and he has made far more money than I have. And you all know people who are "street-smart".

I have observed that intelligent people are more self-sufficient and need to be alone more often. In my case, I fully agree with the saying above.

Balancing introspection and exploration.. a life unexamined is not worth living

Someone can be wise and be mentally handicapped

Like Forrest Gump.

Agree with your definition. To me intelligent people find the answer to the unknown question. Anyone can memorize to pass one written test so education is not a factor in my opinion.

I like your definition. I think JBP would agree. I used to tell my kids that how smart you are depends, in significant part, on where you are standing. Albert Einstien would be dead after 48 hours in the Kalahari Desert but an aborigine with a much lower IQ can live and prosper. I know a guy with very little education who is a mechanical genius. He is now worth millions. Static and fluid IQ must be examined and factored in but life success vs life failure is my key to evaluating whether someone is smart (or do I mean "wise".