10 Big Bang Theory Quotes That Prove Sheldon Was The Smartest

Thanks to a successful mix of heart, humor, and really advanced smart talk, The Big Bang Theory was a massive success. At the center of it all was Sheldon Cooper, the show’s de-facto lead and a genius theoretical physicist, who was as challenging as he was brilliant.

The Big Bang Theory never shied away from proving how intelligent Sheldon was, especially when compared to his friends and peers at Caltech. Indeed, multiple of his memorable and hilarious quotes confirm his overwhelming intelligence, cementing him as the show’s undeniable genius.

Boy Genius

“I’m exceedingly smart. I graduated college at fourteen.”

Sheldon’s childhood was always the subject of fascination during The Big Bang Theory‘s twelve-year run. He often went on about the many things he accomplished during his infancy, confirming that he was one of the smartest child geniuses on television.

True to his prideful persona, Sheldon loved to flaunt his accomplishments to others, often mentioning how he started college at 11 and graduated at 14. If it wasn’t already clear how smart he was, knowing he graduated college when most other kids are still in junior high cemented the deal.

Self-Aware King

“I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had.”

A running gag throughout the show was how people often get frustrated by Sheldon due to his idiosyncrasies and quirks. However, what they don’t realize is that Sheldon is completely grateful for what they do for him.

Sheldon knows how challenging he can be and understands that his “quirks” separate him from average people. He is very self-aware, even if he doesn’t always show it. And while he is often oblivious to social conventions and other people’s emotions, he knows himself well to admit his flaws (especially if it upsets those he cares about).

Love Is In The What?

“Love is in the air? Wrong! Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide are in the air.”

During the show’s early seasons, Sheldon staunchly opposes human intimacy. He finds the very idea of love puzzling at best and repulsive at worst, going out of his way to disqualify it.

In one of his most memorable rants, Sheldon rejects the popular saying “love is in the air” by listing the chemical elements that are actually present in the air. It’s an easy joke but a perfect one to summarize who Sheldon is. It’s also one of the quotes that best encapsulates what Big Bang did so well: mix humor and science to create something unlike anything on television.

No Flaws In His Logic

“If outside is so good, why has mankind spent thousands of years trying to perfect inside?”

Sheldon is notorious for his love of the inside. He doesn’t enjoy going out to any activity that involves human interaction, except for the obvious exceptions of comic con or movie premieres.

During one of the times when Raj and Sheldon are alone, the former tries to convince the latter of going out. Sheldon refuses the offer, offering a convincing argument as to why he should stay in, much to Raj’s chagrin. Sheldon might often exaggerate, but being such a clever man, he’ll offer convincing and highly logical arguments to back his posture, meaning few people will win an argument against him.

A Man Of Logic

“If I could, I would, but I can’t, so I shan’t.”

Fans saw Sheldon maturing considerably throughout The Big Bang Theory, but one thing that never changed was his commitment to the truth. No matter the situation, if he wanted to get to the bottom of something, he didn’t stop until doing so.

When Penny seemingly sleeps with Raj, she mentions how “it’s not what it seems,” much to Sheldon’s puzzlement. The genius physicist takes Penny’s words at heart and begins pondering the many possibilities for why she slept with Raj. Knowing full well he can’t stop wondering about it, he delivers this quote to Leonard, proving that Sheldon is a man of truth, who knows his strengths and weaknesses and isn’t afraid to admit them.

Smart?

“I’d have to lose 60 IQ points to be classified as smart.”

Penny and Sheldon have the best friendship in The Big Bang Theory. He is more relaxed with her than with anyone else, except for Amy; for her part, Penny is at her most patient with Sheldon, often treating him like a younger brother.

The two have several funny interactions that play on the vast gap between their intellects. For example, Penny once refers to him being “really smart,” which prompts him to correct her assessment. Indeed, Sheldon knows the average IQ for people his age and understands that he is leagues above the traditional classification for “smart:” he is a genius, and he isn’t afraid to declare it.

Grammar Can Be Terrifying

“The most frightening thing about that is the missing comma.”

Sheldon gets scared easily, and during Halloween, his friends enjoy playing pranks on him. On one occasion, Raj and Howard prepare an elaborate trick that involves the words “See you in Hell Sheldon” written on the wall.

True to his obsessive persona, Sheldon complains about the missing comma between the words “Hell” and “Sheldon.” He is still scared and trying to act like he isn’t, but his need for perfection still compels him to point out the egregious grammatical error. It’s another example of how Sheldon’s brain never stops working, even when he’s most stressed.

Safety First, Always

“The salesman said it could survive a plane crash, so perhaps you should fly inside it.”

During one of his numerous disagreements with Amy, Sheldon buys her a piece of luxury luggage to apologize. He mentions how it’s apparently so safe “it could survive a plane crash” before making a suggestion that would sound ridiculous to others.

Sheldon adores safety. It’s the one thing he values more than intelligence, often going out of his way to make sure he is the safest he can possibly be. His quote to Amy might sound absurd, which is why it’s so hilarious, but it’s also a sign of how logical Sheldon is. By that point in the show’s run, Sheldon’s sense of humor is at its most developed, so there’s undoubtedly some humor injected into his words, but that doesn’t make them any less true to him.

Confirming What’s Already Known

“Yes, yes, my brain is better than everybody’s!”

“The Scavenger Vortex” is one of the classic Big Bang Theory episodes most fans have seen. It focuses on a competition to find a golden coin, with the gang divided into pairs and Raj acting like the mastermind behind the scenes.

Ever the paranoid man, Sheldon plans for everything the scavenger hunt could possibly involve, including packing a bowling ball on his backpack. Things pay off when one of the stops is a bowling alley, leading him to proudly declare his brain’s superiority. The quote is hilarious in and of itself, but it’s also a testament to how clever Sheldon is. He knows Raj well enough to anticipate his shenanigans and knows that, in a competition, nothing beats preparedness.

Love Is The Answer

“There’s no denying that I have feelings for you that can’t be explained in any other way.”

Sheldon and Amy’s relationship goes through its fair share of ups and downs, mainly due to his difficult nature. Still, with patience and understanding, the two reach a point where they are comfortable enough to say, “I love you.”

For a man as stubborn and emotion-averse as Sheldon, declaring his love for Amy must’ve been very difficult. Yet, it wasn’t because he knew himself and understood that the recent inflow of feelings he experienced could only have one explanation. Sheldon was clever enough not to deny his feelings for Amy, instead choosing to embrace them. The genius Dr. Cooper might be obstinate, but once he understands the logic behind something, he has no choice but to give in to it.

About The Author

David Caballero
(817 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

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