What is the Difference.

[MWB]

What's the difference between being intelligent or smart?

[Thunderbird+]

Intelligence is knowing that the tomato is a fruit.
Being smart is knowing that you dont put tomato's in a fruit cocktail.

[pigbin]

smart is being crafty inteligent is being brainy which i am not the latter

[pondweed]

Intelligence is knowing exactly what you want.
Being smart is knowing how to pay for it before you act.

[Buenchico]

Several people have described me as 'intelligent' because of my ability to to research and answer some of the more obscure questions here on AB. Unfortunately, I'm not smart enough to work out how to make any money out of my (so-called) intelligence ;-)

If you'd prefer a more 'academic' definition, the Concise Oxford Dictionary defines 'intelligent' as 'having or showing (usually a high degree of) understanding; clever, quick of mind'. (The word is derived from the Latin for 'to understand')

The definition of 'smart' embraces that of 'intelligent' but offers alternative, or additional, meanings. For example, it can mean 'clever' or 'ingenious' but it also means 'keen in bargaining' (which is probably a compliment) or 'quick to take advantage' (which is probably not a compliment).

In some circumstances 'smart' can go beyond 'intelligent'. For example a 'smart employee' is defined as one who is not simply 'intelligent' but 'ready and intelligent'. That, of course, assumes that a completely different definition of 'smart' isn't being used. A 'smart employee' might simply be an employee who always starches his collars and polishes his shoes ;-)

Chris

[Buenchico]

PS: Returning to the tomatoes everyone seems to be mentioning:

An intelligent person might know nothing about tomatoes, but he's able to quickly research everything about them, from their culinary history to their nutrient content.

Another person might not be able to do any of that, but he can still make a big profit from buying and selling them. He's smart!

Chris

[Kinetic]

Chris my friend,

A 'smart' person would to me be one who uses his intelligence wisely and not just think about making money all the time :]

[Kinetic]

By the way best answer on this one goes to Thunderbird!