Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points. — Alan Kay

Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points.

Author: Alan Kay

Insight: We tend to think of intelligence as fixed—you either have it or you don't. But this quote points to something stranger: enthusiasm might actually work like intelligence in practical life. When you're genuinely curious about something, you think faster, notice more connections, ask better questions, and stick with problems longer. You also inspire others to help you. Someone who's fired up about understanding a problem will often outthink someone technically sharper but checked out. The non-obvious part is that enthusiasm isn't just motivation—it's a cognitive tool. It changes how your brain processes information. You remember details better when they matter to you. You see patterns others miss. You're willing to look stupid trying things, which is how you actually learn. This might explain why passionate people in nearly any field often accomplish more than the most naturally talented but apathetic ones. The catch is that you can't fake this at scale. Genuine enthusiasm is hard to manufacture for things you don't actually care about. But it's worth noticing when something does spark that feeling in you—that might be a signal that your brain is about to work better than usual.