“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

—  Albert Einstein

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." by Albert Einstein?
Albert Einstein photo
Albert Einstein 702
German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativi… 1879–1955

Related quotes

Albert Einstein photo

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
Ralph Cudworth photo

“The true knowledge or science which exists nowhere but in the mind itself, has no other entity at all besides intelligibility; and therefore whatsoever is clearly intelligible, is absolutely true.”

Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688) English philosopher

Source: Treatise Concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality (1731), Ch. 5, sct. 7

Andy Warhol photo

“Beauty is a sign of intelligence.”

Andy Warhol (1928–1987) American artist

“A word or a phrase or a line is not a poem. A poem is the exploration and shaping of an experience. A real poem demands intelligence, imagination, passion, understanding, experience and not least a knowledge of the craft.”

Vernon Scannell (1922–2007) British boxer and poet

A Proper Gentleman, 1977

“There are three signs of a knowledgeable person: knowledge, forbearance and silence.”

Ali (601–661) cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad

Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol. 2, p. 59.
Regarding Knowledge & Wisdom, General

Victor Hugo photo

“Reason is intelligence taking exercise; imagination is intelligence with an erection.”

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French poet, novelist, and dramatist

Unpublished notebook from 1845-50. Published in Seebacher (ed.), Oeuvres Complètes, vol. 10, p. 158 (Laffont, 1989). English translation from Robb, Victor Hugo p. 249 (Norton, 1997).

“Being able to embrace contradictions is a sign of intelligence.
Or insanity.”

Richard Kadrey (1957) San Francisco-based novelist, freelance writer, and photographer

Source: Butcher Bird

Larry Niven photo

“What’s intelligence for if not for seeking knowledge?”

Larry Niven book Destiny's Road

Source: Destiny's Road (1997), Chapter 30, “Hydraulic * Empire” (p. 299)

Edgar Rice Burroughs photo

“Imagination is but another name for super intelligence.”

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) American writer
Terry Pratchett photo

“Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.”

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author

Foreword to The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1998) by David Pringle, ISBN 0-87951-937-1</small>, and The Definitive Illustrated Guide to Fantasy (2003) by David Pringle, <small> ISBN 1-84442-930-X
General sources

Related topics