Quote #0
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to the intelligent.
A. E. van Vogt
About This Quote
This line is commonly presented as a twist on the biblical sentiment that outcomes are not guaranteed by speed or strength alone, reframing success as depending on intellect. It often circulates as a standalone aphorism without reliable linkage to a specific work by the named author.
Interpretation
The idea is that winning is less about raw physical advantages and more about strategy, judgment, and problem-solving—suggesting that thinking well can outweigh being faster or stronger.
Variations
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to the intelligent.
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to the wise.
Misattributions
- Ecclesiastes (Bible)
- George Orwell
- H. G. Wells
