Self-confidence and core intelligence
are unrelated mental qualities.
We’ve all known individuals as dense
as mud, who think their own abilities
exceed the smarts of everyone they meet.
With visage smug and posture stiff-assured,
they act as if development’s complete,
and claim to know the gist of every word.

We’ve also all encountered gifted souls
who seem to doubt their depth of intellect,
as if their self-esteem is full of holes,
their satisfaction brief and quickly checked.
All brilliant folks, including you and me,
imagine how much smarter they could be.