"Intelligence is like underwear -- have it, but…

“Intelligence is like underwear—have it, but don’t show it off” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Intelligence is like underwear; everybody should have some, but no one should show it off” was printed in the Des Moines (IA) Register on October 30, 1997. “Intelligence is like underwear, everyone has it but you don’t have to show it off” was posted on the newsgroup comp.databases.oracle.server, also on October 30, 1997, Authorship is unknown.

“Knowledge is like underwear—have it, but don’t show it off” is a later variation of the saying. “Intelligence is like wealth. Great to have, but if you go around showing it off, then everyone will hate you” is a related saying.

30 October 1997, Des Moines (IA) Register, “Random Rants,” Datebook sec., pg. 5D, col. 5:
Intelligence is like underwear; everybody should have some, but no one should show it off.
—South-side woman

Google Groups: comp.databases.oracle.server
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10/30/97
(...)
Intelligence is like underwear, everyone has it but you don’t have to show it off.

Google Groups: rec.autos.sport.f1
Razzers—who is who?
Emma
10/6/98
(...)
Intelligence is like underwear, everyone has it but you don’t have to show it off.

5 December 1998, The Times of India (Mumbai, India), Saturday Times sec., pg. 4, col. 7:
Intelligent SE fans,
Intelligence is like underwear. We should all have it but we shouldn’t show it off.
Seiji Thomas

Google Books
A Treasury of Humor:
Thousands of humorous stories, jokes, anecdotes and one-liners, up-to-date and categorized for ease of use
By Lowell D. Streiker
Peabody, MA : Hendrickson Publisher Marketing, LLC
2000
Pg. 215:
Intelligence is like underwear. We all should have it, but we shouldn’t show it off.

Twitter
Srikanth ஸ்‌ரீகாந்த்
@logic
Intelligence is like an underwear. It is important that you have it, but not necessary that you show it
3:40 AM - 13 Aug 2007

Google Books
1,037 One Liner Jokes
By Matthew Hovey
Lulu Press (Lulu.com)
2017
Pg. ?:
Intelligence is like underwear. It is important that you have it, but not necessary that you show it off.

Twitter
Willesdenstaff
@willesdenstaff
Intelligence is like underwear… It’s important you have it, but not necessary that you show it off. 🤔🤔🤣🤣🎄🎁🎅🤗💕
3:38 PM - 23 Dec 2018

Twitter
viv
@oneandonlyviv
Intelligence is like underwear’s…..everyone should have some but not everyone should see it
5:13 PM - 4 Jul 2019