EVERYONE at one time or another wants to be acknowledged as being clever. It is a human trait. The need to look smart and the desire to be on the receiving end of compliments can be overwhelming at times.
So where's the catch? Trying to be clever is dangerous and unnecessary because all of us are unique in our own way. If you are proclaimed as "clever" by your boss in your work place, there is a chance that others may not like it. It is called envy. On a darker side, it is called jealousy.
It's not your fault, of course but human nature is not so tolerant of smart alecs. Being praised once too often can lead to an unjustified impression of one's good-self. It is an easy passage to vanity and you may walk unwittingly into the pitfall of arrogance.
Sometimes, efforts at trying to be clever can be at the expense of others. For obvious reasons, this should never be done. Nevertheless the human ego tends to overlook such "trivia" (not to others though).
Most bosses or even members of your own family are not so obstuse that they are not aware of your attention-grabbing antics. If it happens once, they may think it's cute on your part. More than twice, it will rub them the wrong way. Nerves can be raw and sore after numerous blatant display of such acts.
False modesty does not cut it, too. The best thing to do is always to downplay your intelligence (if you have lots of it). Do it sincerely. That shouldn't be too hard. Actually, the more you know, the more you find out you don't know. It's not Socrates' philosophy. It's common sense.
So be yourself. Everyone is clever on different occasions and at different times of their lives. On that note, I shall leave you with this wonderful phrase.
THERE'S THE WISDOM OF THE FOOLISH
THE GRACEFULNESS OF THE SLOW
THE SUBTLETY OF STUPIDITY
AND THE ADVANTAGE OF LYING LOW
I take no credit for those lines. They were the creation of one of my favourite philosophers, Lin Yu-tang.
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