Some of the smartest people make the stupidest mistakes

[spiros]

Some of the smartest people make the stupidest mistakes. A Harvard grad, top of his class, ends up in chaos from a stupid ethical mistake. Why? Because it's not about intelligence; it's about ego. When ego is left unchecked, it will pick the worst scenario out of a hundred, out of a thousand. That's how ego operates. Ego equals chaos. Ego equals the worst possible outcomes. If there is one person in this world that will be the most difficult for you to deal with and will cause you the most suffering, that's the one with whom you'll end up. They may look good. They may lure you in, but, in the end, they're going to cause you pain.

Yehuda Berg, Living Kabbalah: A Practical System for Making the Power Work for You