"行動が本当の知性の尺度である"

You know, that saying really hits the nail on the head. It’s all about how what you do is the true indicator of how smart you are—not just what you know or say. Think about it: you can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you never use it, what’s the point? It’s the doing, the actual implementation of that knowledge, that counts.

This idea isn’t new. It’s been around for ages, likely because it’s such a fundamental truth. Historically, many great thinkers and leaders have echoed similar sentiments. Take Thomas Edison, for example. He famously said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” What he meant was that you can have a brilliant idea, but without the hard work to bring it to life, it’s just that—an idea.

Let me tell you a story to bring this home. Picture this: there’s this guy, John. John’s a software developer—really smart, knows his stuff inside and out. He reads all the latest articles, attends conferences, and is always up-to-date on new programming languages. But here’s the catch: he never actually works on any projects. He doesn’t build anything or contribute to open-source projects. So, despite his vast knowledge, when a friend asked him to help develop a simple app, John struggled. He realized that knowing and doing are two entirely different things. His intelligence in theory didn’t translate to practical skills because he hadn’t applied what he knew.

So, how do you put this wisdom to use? It starts with action. If you’re learning something new, immediately find a way to apply it. Reading a book about writing? Start a blog. Learning about a new software tool? Create a mini-project. The key is to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. You don’t need to wait until you’re an expert—just dive in. The more you do, the more you learn, and the smarter you become in a practical sense.

Imagine you’re sitting in a coffee shop with a friend who’s always dreamed of running a marathon. They’ve read all the books, followed all the training plans, and can recite nutritional advice and running techniques by heart. But here’s the thing—they’ve never actually gone for a run. You’d probably tell them, “Hey, it’s great you know all this, but you need to start running to make it real.” And that’s the essence of this quote. Knowledge is great, but it’s the action that truly measures your intelligence.

In everyday life, this could look like taking small steps. Want to learn a new language? Don’t just use apps—try speaking with a native speaker. Interested in cooking? Don’t just watch cooking shows—get in the kitchen and start making dishes. The idea is to turn your learning into doing, which then solidifies your knowledge and hones your skills.

So next time you’re tempted to just absorb information, remember: it’s what you do with that information that counts. Take action, make mistakes, learn from them, and grow. That’s the real measure of intelligence.