After all this, here’s my pick: the person who asked “why?” as a child and never stopped. Because that curiosity is the engine of every breakthrough. It’s not about having the highest IQ; it’s about wanting to understand the damn compass.
And you know what? That person might be you. Right now, while reading this, you’re questioning the definition of “smart.” That’s more than most people ever do. So pat yourself on the back.
So no, there is no single “smartest person in the world ever.” But there is a legion of smart moments—Einstein staring at a compass, Ramanujan whispering to a goddess, and you thinking, “Huh, maybe it’s more complicated.”
