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Clever Quotes

Lines that admire quick thinking and inventive minds.

Cleverness shows up in a sibling who worked out the family's puzzles first, in songwriters who favor sharp lyrics, and in teammates who find ways around a defense without breaking the rules. This page rounds up quotes about that kind of quick, inventive thinking. For related pages see Clever People.

The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He therefore approaches his task with full humility, and avoids clever tricks like the plague.

Quotes by Edsger Dijkstra

I really like clever men who challenge you.

Quotes by E. L. James

Educate men without religion and you make of them but clever devils.

Quotes by Duke of Wellington

I've always been accused of being too clever for my own good.

Quotes by Denny Laine

Most of the people who write to me are really clever, really engaged. They just want to say that they have read my book and liked it.

Quotes by Denise Mina

Everyone can write jokes and makes things clever.

Quotes by David Walton

Humans are not the fastest or the strongest animals on the planet, but when it comes to survival, we have had the unique advantage of being clever.

Quotes by David Perlmutter

I'm a strange kind of author - I like assignments. I wasn't clever enough to invent an iconic figure like Salander, but she's my kind of girl.

Quotes by David Lagercrantz

When, in his first inaugural address, Ronald Reagan famously said government is the problem, not the solution, he established the Republican mantra that has not changed in all the years since. It was a clever bit of rhetoric, but it...

Quotes by David Horsey

We have all this very clever technology and all these abilities to manipulate the world in all these ways, yet we are faced with the very real question of whether we can be sustainable on this planet - whether or...

Quotes by David Grinspoon

I don't think we are going to become extinct. We're very clever and extremely resourceful - and we will find ways of preserving ourselves, of that I'm sure. But whether our lives will be as rich as they are now...

Quotes by David Attenborough

I love Sara Bareilles. She's just so clever. I wish I were her. She's so awesome.

Quotes by David Archuleta

Clever gimmicks of mass distraction yield a cheap soulcraft of addicted and self-medicated narcissists.

Quotes by Cornel West

Be completely honest - have you ever met someone who you thought was truly clever or interesting or witty who wore fawn?

Quotes by Claudia Winkleman

I've never felt the need to show that I am either clever or tall because I'm not.

Quotes by Claudia Winkleman

Social media teams can and do launch clever campaigns, but game-changing Social Business initiatives are typically driven by management teams.

Quotes by Clara Shih

Elvis Costello's song writing is so peerless and individualistic. It's storytelling and it's deeply intelligent and clever.

Quotes by Chip Esten

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.

Quotes by Charles Kingsley

This is very clever. They have created a system to cheat.

Quotes by Charles Davenport

My dad's a very shrewd, clever guy.

Quotes by C. Thomas Howell

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Frequently Asked Questions

What ties these clever quotes together?
This set treats cleverness as something practical rather than abstract — a sibling who's "probably more clever" while the speaker leans on hard work instead, an appreciation for clever song lyrics, and a playful, riddle-like verse about a cat that "eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." It's less about IQ and more about quick, resourceful thinking. See Cleverness quotes for the trait explored on its own.
Why do people look up clever quotes?
Readers usually want a line to caption something witty they noticed, or to admire someone else's quick thinking rather than their own. The playful cat verse in this collection is a good example of clever being used for pure wordplay rather than a serious life lesson.
Is this collection only about being naturally gifted?
No — one quote openly admits the speaker wasn't "the brightest" and that an older sister was likely more clever, crediting hard work instead. It's a useful reminder that this page isn't only celebrating natural wit; effort gets equal billing.
Does clever only apply to words and ideas here?
Not at all. One quote uses it for basketball teammates who cleverly created open shots by working the ball through traffic and avoiding fouls, showing the word stretching from wordplay to on-court strategy.
Where can I find related pages?
For lines about individuals celebrated for their sharpness, try Clever People or Cleverest; if you want the emphasis on raw brainpower instead of wit, Intelligent and Smart quotes cover related ground.

Whether it is a playful line about a scheming cat or praise for hard-won wit, these quotes treat clever thinking as worth noticing. Continue on to Cleverness or check Cleverest quotes for more.