“The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other going in opposite directions.”
— George Carlin
Simplified Meaning:
People in America are living longer lives, but on average, their intelligence is not improving at the same rate. In fact, the average intelligence might even be decreasing. For instance, even though modern medicine and better living conditions allow people to live to older ages, not everyone is using their longer lives to gain knowledge or wisdom. Imagine a person who has access to lots of books and education but prefers to spend all their time watching TV or playing video games without learning anything new. This person may live a long life, but they might not become smarter or more knowledgeable over time. To use this idea in your own life, try to balance the time you spend on easy entertainment with activities that challenge your mind, like reading, learning new skills, or solving puzzles. This way, you can make sure that you not only live long but also keep getting smarter and more informed as you age.