Winning a person's heart vs. their mind

Is winning a person's mind as important as winning his or heart?

To some people, smarts aren't nearly as important as qualities like honesty, humility, and compassion.

To others (myself included), intelligence is among the qualities desired most in a partner.

I think brains are beyond sexy. I love having a partner who can challenge me intellectually. It doesn't necessarily mean she has to be a walking textbook (though academic knowledge will certainly win her brownie points). Rather, she has to be able to make strong, logical arguments to support her position on issues of the day -- whether it be technology, the economy, racial strife, or politics.

In other words, I want my partner to be in the know. One of the ways my wife ultimately won my heart was by winning my mind first. I saw how smart she was -- she's a teacher by the way -- and didn't take long to become enamored of her.

A woman who may not rank high in physical attractiveness instantly becomes more so in my book just by being able to debate me on any of the aforementioned topics.

Intelligence reflects beauty of the mind.

Once you've found someone who not only has a big heart but also a great mind, you've found a keeper indeed. It's always great to have someone who can help you come up with solutions to problems you face in your everyday lives.

Does a person have to win both your heart and mind -- or only the former? Where do you rank intelligence as far as the qualities you seek in a partner?

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