Being "Merely Clever"

A while ago, I read about avoiding to be “merely clever.” I can’t quite remember where I read it, but it stuck with me for years.

Isn’t cleverness admirable? Why would anyone describe someone as “merely clever”? What lies beyond cleverness?

I thought deeply and laid out all the synonyms in my limited vocabulary:
- cleverness
- intelligence
- smartness
- knowledgeability
- wisdom

Another term immediately stood out:
- being a “smart ass”

Which would I prefer to be called—or not to be called?
- merely clever?
- a smart ass?

I’d like to avoid both if possible, but given my current reputation, would people be more likely to say I’m a smart ass or merely clever?
Probably a smart ass.. lol

I think I can be arrogant and do irritate people with my argumentative style of conversation. But maybe it’s just because I don’t have anyone around me who’s in a position to call me “merely clever.”

Wow, what a realisation..

Having just completed another 10-day Vipassana course recently, I was reminded of the three levels of wisdom:
- Suta-mayā paññā – wisdom from hearing
- Cinta-mayā paññā – wisdom from thinking
- Bhāvanā-mayā paññā – wisdom from cultivation/meditation

I can easily relate this to my career as a consultant: most of us were stuck at Suta-mayā paññā. Some of us reasoned and reflected enough to reach Cinta-mayā paññā. But to attain Bhāvanā-mayā paññā takes years of experience, trial and error, and deep understanding.

Anyway, all in all, I look forward to the day someone is blunt and intimate enough to call me “merely clever.” While it’s condescending, I’d like to have someone in my life who thinks they’re smarter than me and is willing to engage in conversation. Weird to say out loud, but oh well.. let’s see..

Note: This was proofread by GPT-5.