People Who Are Mentally Sharp But Have No Common Sense Usually Say 10 Phrases In Casual Conversation
Paulo Prado | UnsplashMost people want to be seen as intelligent, especially if they think of themselves as naturally smart. But scoring high on your English exam or knowing all the elements on the periodic table doesn't mean you have common sense.
Yes, it's great to have a sharp mind, but true common sense is developed in real life and includes developing emotional intelligence. No matter how much someone brags about being brilliant, if you hear them say these phrases, don't hold your breath. Their common sense is probably a lost cause.
10 phrases mentally sharp people only use when they have zero common sense:
1. 'I assumed everything was fine'
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Scoring A's doesn't mean someone can't be clueless. Sure, they may know how to do math equations; however, dealing with emotions is above their pay grade. They try, but they aren't good at picking up on body language. As a result, clueless people often say, "I assumed everything was fine."
Social skills take time. For many, developing social skills is all about being aware of emotions and communication patterns. This is why mentally sharp people fail. They may be good at reading, but people are a lot more complex than a developmental textbook.
2. 'That never crossed my mind'
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Smart people are chronic overthinkers. Studies show that people with high fluid intelligence can process multiple 'what if' scenarios concurrently. Yet, while this sounds good on paper, overthinking often means missing the bigger picture. This is why clueless people often say, "That never crossed my mind."
It isn't because they're unintelligent, it's because they aren't focused. Their minds move a million miles per minute. Unable to stay in the moment, clueless people miss out. It sucks, but when your attention is scattered, even the most obvious thoughts can pass you by.
3. 'Well, technically I wasn't wrong'
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A person can be at Albert Einstein's level of intelligence and still feel insecure. If they haven't done the inner work, their tolerance for mistakes is always at zero. But rather than keeping that to themselves, some clueless people announce their insecurity to the world. Puffing their chests out or giving a sheepish grin, they say, "Well, technically, I wasn't wrong."
In their eyes, they yearn to be right. It doesn't matter if they were incorrect. Clueless people show themselves time and time again. Lacking common sense, they do their best to look more knowledgeable than they actually are.
4. 'I just went with my first idea'
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Most people are taught to trust their gut. At school or at work, they rely on their instinct instead of reason. Because they believe they'll 'just know,' they often ignore their common sense. Accidentally stirring the pot, clueless people say, "I just went with my first idea," when they mess up.
Sorry, but gut instinct isn't only half of the puzzle. For many, the body reaches a conclusion before their mind catches up. This is why taking time to process is important. They may not like it, but allowing their mind and body to have a say is the real way common sense is developed.
5. 'I thought it was obvious'
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It doesn't matter how 'common sense' something may seem. Just because one person was taught it doesn't mean everyone was. People come from different backgrounds. As a result, they lack the same experiences and knowledge. This is why saying, "I thought it was obvious," is pretty dense.
No, it isn't obvious. For you, it may be, but for the other person, it may be their first time hearing it. Likely feeling embarrassed, it's better to be kind and helpful. It takes effort, but remember that communicating your needs is always better than leaving it up to interpretation.
6. 'I didn't think I needed to ask'
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Sharp people often believe 90% of life can be done all on their own. This is why they mean it when they think they don't need to ask for anyone else's opinions or thoughts.
They've always depended on themselves. At work, they carry the burden, and at school, they've picked up people's slack.
This is why they may be sharp, but the lack common sense. They are highly independent individuals who think highly of their own reasoning, which can become a serious detriment to their success.
7. 'I was only following instructions'
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People who lack common sense can be pretty defensive. Sure, they might've been the smartest in class, but they've likely struggled socially.
Only thing they can say is, "I was only following instructions" or "that's not a rule!" when someone calls them out for making a bad choice or making someone feel uncomfortable.
Is it a weak excuse? Absolutely. Do some of the more clueless among them care? No, not really. At the end of the day, they hate being called out. If they make a mistake, they'd rather blame it on a piece of paper or the fact that their behavior didn't technically violate a rule than say, "I'm sorry." It's prideful, but in their eyes, it protects them from facing discomfort.
8. 'I already know all this'
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Clueless people often struggle with their emotions. Whenever they feel insecure or like someone is smarter or knows more than them, they hide by inflating their ego. Crossing their arms and straightening their backs, they think claiming to know something is the same as actually knowing it. This is why it's no surprise that clueless people say, "I already know how this works."
Call them delusional, but they actually believe it. It doesn't matter how many experts are in the room. Top scientists and researchers could be presenting statistical facts. Like clockwork, clueless people brush everyone's advice aside if it means keeping their pride intact.
9. 'I'll just wing it'
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Life isn't always about playing it safe. You have to take risks. But, of course, you can rarely fully "wing it".
Those who are intelligent but also have common sense understand that balance is key. They plan carefully and, when necessary, play it by ear. Unfortunately, those who are sharp but not practical aren't always on the same page. They allow instincts and an over-inflated sense of their own competence to take over, often leading to disaster.
10. 'I don't need help'
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Some believe that they're invincible, especially people who truly lack common sense. No matter how hard someone tries to help, their pride gets in the way of their logic.
In reality even the smartest people out there need help. The universal truth is that we aren't meant to do life alone.
Social connection is a basic human need that impacts our health and well-being. This is why it's important to lean on others. Even if they don't want to, they'll find that it's easier to walk through life together than doing it all alone.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and trending topics.
