How can the way you look at the world contribute to society?

I once thought about stupidity for a long time. I don’t think anyone can be stupid. I don’t think it exists.

What we often mean when we call somebody stupid—besides our own insecurities—is that the other person simply doesn’t mean what we mean. It’s like talking a different language.

Sometimes it is as if intelligence, and great thinkers, are only the ones who solve hard physics problems. I disagree. I don’t think great thinking necessarily has to do with solving problems. I don’t think the goal of thinking is to solve problems. A goal can be solving problems, but not necessarily. I think the greatest thinkers can make you look at the same thing differently.

Every human has practically their own solar system in their brain. We are all intelligent, in a way. The problem is that intelligence is so broad and has so much variety that it’s not measurable.

We try to fit everybody into a 9–5 regime, sitting behind a computer or at a desk in school. When somebody doesn’t function, we give that person pills, in our eagerness to help. But we are missing the point. The point is: how does your unique way of looking at the world—your brain, your intelligence—contribute to society (or not, if you don’t want to)?

We need to celebrate uniqueness. Right now, we don’t. Remember: there will never be anyone looking at the world the same way you do now.