When in doubt, look intelligent.

The line is a dry, Keillor-esque jab at social performance: when you don’t know what you’re doing, you can often still “pass” by adopting the outward signs of competence. It points to how much authority and expertise are sometimes inferred from demeanor—poise, seriousness, and confidence—rather than from actual knowledge. Read as humor, it’s advice for navigating awkward moments; read more critically, it exposes a culture that rewards appearances and encourages bluffing. The quote also hints at the anxiety of being found out, and the small theatrical tricks people use to protect status in public or professional settings.