Ryan Dwana

Arrogance: “I'm an expert. I know all the answers.” Humility: “I'm no expert. I don’t know the answer.” Curiosity: "I don't know the answer yet, but I'll find it and get back to you." Proactivity: “I didn't know the answer, but I figured you'd want to know, so I found it."

You don’t have to stay in your lane. You do need to check your blind spots before changing lanes. What gets people in trouble isn't tackling unfamiliar topics. It's being ignorant of their own ignorance. A mark of wisdom is entering new terrain with an extra dose of humility.

How to be a better critical thinker: 1. Be 10% more skeptical of people you agree with—and 10% more charitable to people you disagree with 2. Look for flaws in ideas you like—and strengths in arguments you dislike 3. Learn from sources that engage with competing ideas

Introverts are still stereotyped as less warm and capable than extraverts. The tendency to be outgoing vs. reserved has no bearing on competence or character. The world is full of smart, caring introverts. Judge people by their values, skills, and actions—not their personality.

Why smart people often do stupid things: Intelligence isn't a substitute for wisdom. Intelligence is the capacity to learn. Wisdom is converting learning into good judgment. Using brainpower requires willpower. It takes self-control to choose future gains over current impulses.

My new favorite word: sonder. It's the profound awareness that every person you encounter has experienced a lifetime of hopes, fears, loves, and heartaches that you'll never know. Each moment of sonder is a reminder to appreciate how little we truly grasp about others' lives.

Generosity isn’t just a sign of virtue. It’s also a mark of intelligence. Data: people with high IQs have more unselfish values, give more to charity, and negotiate better deals for others. They prioritize the long-term collective good over short-term self-interest. It's smarter to be a giver than a taker. nytimes.com/2020/03/27/smart…