Are We Really As Smart As We Think We Are?

Many times, humans believe we are very smart. We think we have advanced in knowledge, science, and technology. We can fly planes, build skyscrapers, explore space, and even speak to machines. But when you look closely at how we live and treat each other, you begin to ask: are we truly smart, or are we just fooling ourselves?

Real smartness is not just about what we can invent or how much we can manipulate life to suit our needs. True intelligence should lead to peace, unity, and growth for everyone. But what do we see in the world today? Endless wars, power struggles, greed, and division. Countries fight over land, wealth, and influence. Leaders compete for who is more powerful, often at the cost of innocent lives. Rich people want to control everything, and the less privileged are left to suffer. Is that really smartness?

In my locality, there is the word "iregun," which means reminding someone of the good you did for them, just to show that you are better or to make the person feel guilty. This mindset is very common, even among the so-called great leaders of the world. Recently, there has been tension between one of the most powerful people and the richest man in the world. No one knows the full story, but it clearly shows that pride, ego, and competition still rule human hearts. Instead of working together for the greater good, people are more interested in proving they are right or more important.

If we were truly wise, we would know that hurting others or controlling them does not make us great. Most of the problems in the world come from selfish thinking and short-term actions. People only think of what they can gain, not how their actions affect others. That is not real intelligence. That is blindness.

What we need is "enlightened self-interest." This means doing what is best for you but in a way that also benefits others. If everyone lived with that kind of wisdom, the world would be more peaceful. There would be less hunger, fewer wars, and more love. We would not see others as enemies or competition but as fellow travellers on the same journey of life.

Being smart should not mean using others, cheating, or fighting for power. It should mean finding ways to live together, solve problems, and make the world better. Until we learn that, we are not as smart as we think we are.