A Neuroscientist On Wisdom vs. Intelligence & Why They Both Matter

First things first: What do the two actually mean? By definition, wisdom (the quality of being wise) is described as "the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment." To be wise is to have deep insight and understanding, and wise people may be thought of as old souls.

As neuroscientist and author of The Source Tara Swart, M.D., Ph.D., explains to mbg, "Wisdom is the life lessons you pick up through experience and store in your neurons but don't consciously recall."

Intelligence, on the other hand, is defined as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills." It's about intellect and the application of that intellect. Swart notes intelligence can be defined in several ways, including emotional intelligence, "But the traditional definition is about using your logic to solve problems and make decisions."

So the difference then is where these qualities come from and how we use them. Wisdom comes through experience, perhaps without us even realizing it, and intelligence, in all its many forms, is often something inherent (or something we consciously work on improving).

Some people may favor intelligence over wisdom, or wisdom over intelligence, depending on their values, goals, and so on. But according to Swart, both are equally important.

However, she says, "As you grow in wisdom and experience, intuition can become far more powerful than logic alone."

Ideally, you can exercise both, so you can not only approach a situation logically (intelligence) but tap into your deeper sense of wisdom or intuition to read between the lines or see the big picture.

Swart explains that logic tends to "come from your head and is based on gathering facts and making a decision that you know the reasons behind."

Wisdom, on the other hand, "is felt usually in the gut or heart and comes with a deep sense of feeling that this is right for you, not just right in general," she says. It can often be accompanied by visceral sensations like goose bumps or even tears, she adds.

And the next time you're speaking with someone and want to know whether they're showing wisdom or intelligence, Swart says you can simply ask them directly where their reasoning is coming from and what it's based on.