[illuminant]

I am not a product of academia (though I have spent decades in self studies.)

I think of intelligence all the time. In fact, I am pushing the definition, intelligence: the mitigation of uncertainty. If it does not mitigate uncertainty, it is not intelligent.

I have to say, I barely ever compare myself with others.

There are many forms of intelligence, and I do criticize the poor language comprehension skills of ordinary people (I say there is wide spread "illiteracy", as there is a casm between capacity to read and reading capacity.

However, even the most modest person may harbor a surprising insight, experience, or intellectual gem.

Yes, focus upon tasks at hand, and don't be arrogant, for however intelligent Man is born a fool, lives his entire life a fool, and dies a fool. It is only his determination to be otherwise in between which may make it so.