Would you want your kid to be smart but mean? or dumb but kind?

Wow! I would have to go with neither. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I hear my kids being mean (and especially to each other). There is enough hardship in life and being mean is not going to get you through it. If anything, it will make life a lot tougher. I must disagree that your kids must learn how to be mean to defend themselves. You children should learn to stand up for themselves and what they believe in without being mean about it. There is always a better way to handle confrontations and if they are smart they won't have to be mean about it.

Neither thank you.

I have five sons, all now adult. They each obtained at least one University degree and have excelled in their chosen professions, so I guess you could call them smart. They are happily married to girls who are perfect for them and have happy, contented families. They are kind and considerate, generous and gentle. In case you haven't guessed by now, I am proud of them, and that is not just being biased.

So, I'm sorry, but neither of your choices is acceptable. I aim for the best.

I have to say that it is really a difficult task to make a choice.

You see, people who are and dumb are not we wish for. But "fortunately", in our so called society, there are lots of people who are smart but mean. In their eyes, they shoud be mean because they are smart and capable. Being dumb doesn't mean that these people have no ability to work hard and build a strong relationship with others. Instead, all people tend to make friends with kind people.

If I have some chances to make a choice, I prefer the dumb but kind people. I will be happy even if my kids are dumb but kind because I really hate people who are mean.

Sorry neither would work for me. I would rather my child grow up to be smart and kind. Being smart and mean is not nice at all. You can defend yourself and not be a mean person. I grew up to be a smart person and have had many hardships in my life but I'm still strong and kind, not mean. No one needs to be mean. Dealing with the hardships of life you don't have to be a mean person.

I won't care too much about their intellegence and temper,just hope they won't go to extremes,and that will be OK.if one is too mean,he will cause many people to defeat him,and no matter how smart he is,he can deal with too many people.If one is too dumb,many people will take advantage of him or impair him,especially he is a kind people meanwhile.so if it's inevitable to choose,one is prefer to be born smart and kind,or dumb and mean.

having a smart kid is good but if the kid is smart, then she/he should know the right thing to do towards somebody, she should know what is right and what is wrong, and if she/he doesn't know, then she/he is not a smart kid.