The Art of Grit

Never stay up on the barren heights of cleverness, but come down into the green valley of silliness – Ludwig Wittgenstein

There’s something freeing about this quote. It reminds me of how much time we spend trying to present ourselves as intelligent, articulate, or “successful” in the eyes of others, particularly in today’s social media-driven world. It’s as if our lives are continuously broadcasted, curated into snippets of cleverness, constantly striving for validation through likes, followers, and fleeting admiration. This obsession with projecting a certain image can feel suffocating. The pressure to fit into neat personality labels like “alpha,” “beta,” or “sigma” is rampant. And while these tags seem to explain so much, they also reduce us, don’t they? They funnel us into rigid boxes, telling us how we should act or be perceived.

Ludwig Wittgenstein knew this all too well. Despite his towering intellectual achievements, he didn’t care much for being put on a pedestal as some lofty philosopher. He was more interested in the simple things—in engaging with life at its most human level. His story has always resonated with me. After writing Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, a groundbreaking work in philosophy, Wittgenstein did something surprising: he gave it all up for a time and became a schoolteacher. He sought a simpler life, one far removed from the intellectual elite, a life where he could be with children, teaching and learning from their curiosity and silliness. He understood something essential: being clever isn’t all that life has to offer.

And yet, look around today. How many of us are stuck in the “barren heights of cleverness” that Wittgenstein warned about? Social media makes it so easy to stay there, caught in the need to appear sharp, impressive, and witty. But does this bring real connection or joy? Or is it just a mask we wear, trading authentic experience for applause?

I wonder, when was the last time I allowed myself to be truly silly? To play without worrying how it looked or whether it was socially acceptable? I think back to childhood, where being silly was just a part of everyday life. No filters, no persona, just pure exploration and fun. Why does that fade as we grow up? Wittgenstein seems to be asking us the same question: Why stay in the barren heights when the green valley of silliness is just as much a part of being alive?

There’s so much we lose when we cling too tightly to being perceived as clever. We miss out on play, discovery, and authentic connection. Cleverness can become a shield that keeps us from truly engaging with others, from letting our guard down, and simply enjoying the messiness of life.

Perhaps it’s time we rethink the energy we invest in maintaining these images and ask ourselves: when was the last time I allowed myself to be silly, to be free? What would happen if I stopped worrying so much about being clever and allowed myself to come down to the valley where life happens—imperfect, spontaneous, and full of joy?

I think Wittgenstein was onto something. Maybe it’s time we all spend a little more time down in the valley.