THE ADVANTAGES OF MOVING IN SILENCE AND PRETENDING TO BE STUPID | LANCESCURV

You Can’t Hit What You Can’t See

I have to tell you, in jobs where I remained silent and deflected any attempts by coworkers or supervisors to probe into my personal life—offering them small, harmless falsehoods—I fared much better. However, when people discovered my range, background, and aspirations, they realized I was not an ignorant individual. As a result, they became guarded around me, perceiving me as a threat for whatever personal reasons or insecurities they possessed.

This isn’t just limited to the workplace—it can happen anywhere. It could occur in your community, within your actual neighborhood, where neighbors feel intimidated by your intelligence. It could happen in your house of worship or even within your own family. These tactics of keeping a low profile can be applied anywhere. In today’s modern world, where so many eyes are on you—evaluating, sizing you up—it’s often best that they underestimate you. Let them think you are beneath them on the scale of mediocrity, to the point where you are barely seen, avoiding as much contact with them as possible.

Growing up in New York City, I found it much easier to fly below the radar. I quickly learned how to detect people who would eventually seek to come at me, recognizing their insecurities early on. I also avoided places where trouble was most likely to occur, especially those frequented by insecure individuals who had something to prove.

As Muhammad Ali once said about his boxing style, “You can’t hit what you can’t see.” Likewise, in life, moving strategically allows you to cut through unnecessary conflicts like a hot knife through butter. Your sharpness and awareness will help you sidestep confrontations started by those who feel threatened by your intelligence.

The Smartest Move Is to Look Like You’re Not Playing

Let me break something down for you—no matter how sharp you are, how much game you got, or how deep your knowledge runs, showing it off at every turn can become your greatest downfall. In a world that rewards mediocrity and punishes brilliance, intelligence ain’t always an advantage. It’s a target.

Ever wonder why the smartest ones often move alone? Why the real thinkers and visionaries always seem to be isolated? It’s because most people don’t want the truth—they want comfort. They don’t want to be challenged—they want validation. And when you start dropping too many facts, pointing out the obvious, or correcting foolishness, all you’re doing is making enemies.

Why Smart People Get Hated On

Arthur Schopenhauer once said intelligence is not always an advantage in the world of men. And he was right. People don’t hate you because you’re wrong; they hate you because you make them feel small. When you correct someone, you’re not just giving them knowledge—you’re exposing their ignorance. And instead of gratitude, what do you get? Resentment.

How many times have you spoken the truth and got side-eyes? How often have you dropped gems in a conversation only for people to dismiss you, mock you, or even try to come for you? That’s because most people aren’t looking for enlightenment—they just want to feel good about themselves. And if your intelligence threatens that, you become the problem.

The Art of Pretending to Be Average

So, what’s the move? Do you dumb yourself down? Do you start acting ignorant just to fit in? Nah, that ain’t it. You don’t have to become mediocre—you just have to play it strategically. There’s a time to shine and a time to fall back. You gotta know when to speak and when to let the fools have their moment.

Schopenhauer called it “the art of pretending to be a fool.” Not because you are one, but because sometimes, playing the fool is the smartest thing you can do. Want respect? Don’t boast. Want to be heard? Don’t argue. Want influence? Don’t intimidate people with your intellect.

Let people think they came to the truth on their own. The ones who really move up in life aren’t the loudest or the smartest in the room—they’re the ones who know how to navigate human relationships, who understand that truth is a double-edged sword, and who know that if you come off too strong, the weak will unite against you.

Play the Long Game

This doesn’t mean you settle for mediocrity. It means you pick your battles. True intelligence isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about knowing which ones are worth having. Most of the time, proving a fool wrong does nothing for you. Instead, let them believe whatever they want.

Imagine you’re in a meeting, and someone says something monumentally stupid. Your instinct tells you to correct them, to set the record straight. But what do you gain? Will they suddenly wake up and respect your intelligence? Probably not. More likely, they’ll resent you. So instead, you nod, let it slide, and keep it moving.

That’s not weakness—that’s wisdom. That’s understanding that the best way to win a fight is to never step into the ring in the first place.

Society Is Built for the Mediocre

Here’s the harsh truth: society favors mediocrity because mediocrity is safe. The mediocre gather together, support each other, and rise up as a group. But if you’re brilliant and you make it obvious? You become an outsider. You get isolated, misunderstood, even attacked.

That’s why you have to be smart about how you move. You don’t fight mediocrity head-on, because you’ll lose every time. Instead, you play the game from the shadows. You let them underestimate you. You let them think you’re harmless. And then, when the time is right, you make your move.

The Power of Strategic Invisibility

You ever notice how the most powerful people in the world don’t brag? They don’t show all their moves. They work in silence. The most dangerous predators don’t announce their attack. The deadliest snakes don’t rattle before they strike.

Stealth is power.

If people don’t see you as a threat, they leave you alone. If they think you’re just another average person, they won’t try to block your progress. And while they’re busy showing off and fighting for attention, you’re making quiet moves, stacking your wins, and preparing for something bigger.

This doesn’t mean you disappear completely. It means you learn when to step forward and when to step back. You don’t waste energy proving yourself to people who don’t matter. You don’t argue with fools. You don’t fight for a spotlight that does nothing for you. Instead, you focus on building, growing, and positioning yourself for success.

Stop Seeking Validation, Start Seeking Power

Most people are too focused on being seen. They want recognition, applause, validation. But that’s a distraction. The real power moves are made in silence. The most dangerous people aren’t the ones running their mouths—they’re the ones watching, waiting, and striking when the time is right.

So, stop worrying about whether people see your genius. Stop trying to prove how smart you are. Stop getting caught up in debates with people who will never understand your level. The real ones don’t argue—they orchestrate. They let the fools fight while they set the board.

Move in Silence, Strike with Precision

The best chess players don’t announce their next move. They don’t tell their opponent what they’re about to do. They just do it. That’s how you win in life.

So, next time you’re in a room full of people talking nonsense, remember—you don’t have to prove anything. You don’t have to correct them. You don’t have to let your intelligence make you a target.

Let them think what they want. Let them have their moment. Meanwhile, you’re playing the long game. And when the time is right? You make your move, and there won’t be a damn thing they can do about it.

That’s how you survive. That’s how you win. Moving like this will keep you looking young for a very long time.

Much Love and Respect Always,

LanceScurv