People Who Think At A Genius Level Almost Always Ask These 11 Questions When They Talk To You
Dean Drobot | Shutterstock Most geniuses don't act the way movies make them seem. They aren't loud, showy, or constantly trying to prove how smart they are. Instead, people who think at a genius level tend to be subtle, observant, and curious. One of the clearest ways this shows up is in the questions they ask during everyday conversations.
Rather than filling the silence or making small talk, highly intelligent people use questions to understand perspectives, analyze ideas, and learn how other minds work. They aren't interrogating you or trying to sound superior. They're genuinely interested. These 11 questions are the ones people who think at a genius level almost always ask when they talk to you.
People who think at a genius level almost always ask these 11 questions when they talk to you:
1. 'What are your thoughts?'
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People who think at a genius level almost always ask, "What are your thoughts?" when they talk to you. Genius-level thinkers care less about surface opinions and more about how you see the situation. This question helps them understand your reasoning, not just your conclusion.
No, they aren't trying to make simple conversation. If there's one thing people should know about intelligent people, it is that they don't waste time on idle chatter. This makes sense, as according to a study published in Psychological Science, students who had deeper conversations experienced greater happiness than those who engaged in small talk.
Knowing this, it isn't shocking that a genius person only asks questions they're genuinely curious about. After all, if there's one thing intelligent people hate, it's wasting time. Of course, it is intimidating for someone to voice their concern and speak their mind, but being vocal and upfront with their thoughts will make for an overall stimulating conversation.
2. 'How'd you come to that conclusion?'
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Everyone's mind works in different ways. While one person can look at a piece of information and reach one conclusion, others learn to process information differently. This is why people who think at a genius level almost always ask the question, "How'd you come to that conclusion," when they talk to you. They’re curious about how your mind connects dots. Asking this helps them learn how different people process the same information.
Nobody loves having to explain their thought process. But one thing people should know about highly intelligent people is that they’ll go out of their way to get real answers. They’re endlessly curious and often intellectually understimulated, so when something finally grabs their attention, they lean in. If it feels annoying, take it as a compliment. They’re genuinely fascinated by how your mind works.
3. 'How will that work in the long run?'
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Highly intelligent people naturally think ahead. They ask this to explore consequences, not to poke holes or challenge you.
No one likes being put on the spot. Even when it’s helpful, getting questioned over and over can feel uncomfortable. Still, people who think at a genius level can’t help themselves. Driven by curiosity more than tactics, they often ask, “How will that work in the long run?”
It might feel challenging after you’ve just laid out a plan, but it isn’t meant as a dig. Highly intelligent people aren’t trying to show anyone up. They understand that feeling disrespected only creates more resistance, so they stay focused on analyzing outcomes, weighing pros and cons, and thinking ahead.
So, while it might sound challenging, don't take it to heart. Most intelligent people are asking this to analyze the pros and cons of what's being proposed.
4. 'Where did you learn about this?'
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Intelligent people are pretty cool in the movies, but in real life, they might slightly frustrate those around them. Without meaning to, intelligent people use logic a bit too much, causing frustration to those who may not be as rational as they are. They don't usually mean any harm by it — most intelligent people are fairly open-minded, which is why they're always open to changing their opinion.
But before they do so, smart people want the logic to make sense. This is why people who think at a genius level usually ask the question, "Where did you learn about this?" when they talk to you.
This isn’t about fact-checking you for sport. They want to understand where the information came from so they can evaluate it themselves. It might make you roll your eyes, but if they're able to do their own research and look at the provided sources, they're better able to reformulate their opinion. So, even if it's annoying to be asked to provide a source, trust that genuises do it for a reason.
5. 'Can you show me how you did this?'
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People who think at a genius level usually ask, "Can you show me how you did this?" when they talk to you. It may sound skeptical, but it’s usually admiration. They’re interested in your method, not questioning your intelligence.
On the outside, this phrase might sound like it's casting doubt on your intelligence. Feeling slightly offended, it might be tempting not provide an answer or be slightly passive-aggressive. But it isn't always a bad thing to hear this phrase.
Professor of philosophy Michael W. Austin, Ph.D., explains, "The intellectually curious person has a deep and persistent desire to know. She asks and seeks answers to the 'why' questions. And she doesn’t stop asking at a surface level, but instead asks probing questions to peel back layers of explanation to get at the foundational ideas concerning a particular issue."
This is why they're always trying to figure things out. While it might be exhausting, it's part of who an intellectually curious person is.
6. 'Can you explain that one more time so I'm clear?'
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People who think at a genius level almost always ask, "Can you explain that one more time, so I'm clear?" They’d rather clarify now than misunderstand later. Asking again helps them see patterns they might have missed the first time.
If there's one thing people hate doing, it's repeating themselves. Whether it's repeating themselves to their partner or to their coworker, expect people to go from calm to passive-aggressive real quick. While their frustration is understandable, this phrase isn't always uttered because someone wasn't paying attention. It's just a phrase intelligent people use to better understand you — they know that not speaking up often creates more problems.
This is why all people should learn to use their voice. While you may feel bad for asking someone to go over things again, you're saving more time in the long run.
7. 'What did that teach you?'
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Nobody wants to learn the hard lessons in life. If they could have it their way, they'd live life on easy mode and never struggle a day in their life. But this isn't the way life works, and in the real world, there's always going to be a struggle.
This is why people who think at a genius level usually question, "What did that teach you?" Genius-level thinkers see mistakes as data. This question helps them extract meaning from experience, not judge it.
Mistakes are inevitable, whether it's at a job or with a partner; people are bound to mess up from time to time. But through these mistakes, people can learn and develop skills. As a consultant in family violence, Steven Stosny, Ph.D., said, "We can learn from mistakes more than we can learn from successes." This is why intelligent people value making mistakes, because through them, they learn a lot better.
8. 'What would you do differently next time?'
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Intelligent people are always in their heads. It doesn't matter how small a situation is — if it's complicated enough for them to think, you better believe they'll be reflecting and ruminating for days to come. That's just how they are.
While others might find it exhausting, they're always looking at the what-ifs. Maybe because it stimulates their mind, but due to their natural thought process, people who think at a genius level ask, "What would you do differently?"
They aren't trying to be too much of a bother, but intelligent people crave depth. So used to being bored and understimulated by the world around them, they want to dig deeper, and this often starts by asking more personal questions.
9. 'What did you learn?'
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Everyone hates looking back at a horrible moment and being forced to reflect. But if you're not learning those tough lessons, it's impossible to truly grow. This is why people who think at a genius level typically ask, "What did you learn?" when they talk to you. They believe growth comes from reflection. This question helps them understand how experiences shape people.
In life, people either absorb the lesson or never learn. For a smart person, they're always wanting to do their best to learn the lessons and become better. As corporate consultant Beverly D. Flaxington said, "One of the great things about being a perpetual student of life is that if you are open to learning, you can find life lessons everywhere." This is probably why smart people question others about it. Deep down inside, they know that through every bad experience, a lesson can be learned.
10. 'What helped you get through that?'
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Highly intelligent people are often more empathetic than expected. They ask questions to understand resilience, not just outcomes. That's why you'll often hear people who think at a genius level ask the question, "What helped you get through that?" when they talk to you.
Going through hard times is never easy. It doesn't matter how many months or years have passed. Depending on the circumstances, certain moments in life can take a while to heal from. Smart people are surprisingly empathetic. They're known to be curious and open-minded, and they like to dig deep and get to know people on a personal level. This is why they're quick to ask these questions.
11. "What stood out most to you?'
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Finally, people who think at a genius level usually ask the question, "What stood out most to you?" when they talk to you. It might be frustrating to hear, but they're asking this for a reason. They value other people’s insights, so this question helps them see angles they might not have considered on their own.
As they say, two heads are always better than one. According to Associate Professor Mark A. Maltarich, Ph.D., "People learn in teams. So promoting knowledge sharing pays off." This is why most intelligent people ask others for their opinion.
Could they only bank on their own knowledge and still succeed? Sure, however, the greatest way to reach one's full potential and succeed is to take everyone's ideas and use them to improve on an original one.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's degree in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and astrology topics.
