In reality, serial killers are of average intelligence.

"In reality, serial killers are of average intelligence," said Pat Brown, and within these words lies a truth that challenges the prevailing myths of criminal genius. For centuries, the world has been gripped by the notion that evil is the domain of extraordinary minds, that those who commit the most heinous of crimes must be blessed with intellect beyond measure. But here, Brown shatters that illusion. She speaks not just to the nature of criminality, but to the very fabric of human understanding, reminding us that evil is not bound by intelligence but by psychology, by the shadows that twist within the heart.

The meaning of this quote strikes at the heart of many a misconception about the criminal mind. Serial killers, often portrayed in films and books as men and women of unmatched cunning, are, in truth, often not remarkably different from the average person. Pat Brown reveals a profound lesson in humility—that the capacity for evil is not limited to a rarefied class of gifted minds, but rather, can lurk in any ordinary individual. They may possess cunning, yes, but not the brilliance often attributed to them. In this, we are reminded that true intelligence is not measured by malice, but by wisdom, understanding, and the capacity to choose good over evil.

This statement calls us to reconsider the nature of evil and the human mind. Take, for example, the infamous case of Ted Bundy, a man often viewed as a manipulative mastermind. Bundy, despite his terrifying acts, was, by all accounts, not a man of extraordinary intelligence. His charm and cunning were tools in a twisted game of manipulation, not signs of an elevated mind. What made Bundy dangerous was not his intellect, but his deep-seated psychopathy, the ability to detach himself from empathy and morality. The true lesson here is not that intelligence breeds evil, but that evil arises from something far more insidious: a lack of empathy, a severing of the natural connection between self and others.

Consider the commonality between those who commit such acts. Throughout history, we find that many of these individuals are not driven by intelligence alone, but by a complex web of psychological issues—sociopathy, childhood trauma, a distorted sense of power. The lesson here is not that knowledge is dangerous, but that wisdom, compassion, and emotional regulation must be cultivated in order to prevent such darkness from consuming us. In understanding that serial killers are often average in intellect, we are reminded that we must look deeper into the psyche, for it is the heart, not the mind, that shapes one’s destiny.

This truth, while unsettling, offers us an opportunity for reflection and growth. Average intelligence, in and of itself, does not define the boundaries of our potential for good or ill. What defines us is our character, our choices, and our understanding of our own hearts. It is within our power to cultivate virtue, to act with integrity and empathy, to choose love and kindness over cruelty and harm. In this way, we rise above the ordinary mind and reach for something far greater than mere intellect.

Pat Brown’s words also urge us to reconsider the role of fear in our societies. If serial killers are truly of average intelligence, then it is not their intellect that we should fear, but their actions. Fear of the unknown—of those who act without conscience—can cloud our judgment and keep us from seeing the truth. The true enemy is not the intelligent criminal, but the one who chooses to betray humanity, who lets cruelty reign over compassion. In recognizing this, we understand that the power of good lies within each of us, not in our intellect but in the choices we make each day.

Thus, the lesson of Pat Brown’s quote is profound and far-reaching: we must understand the nature of evil not as an intellectual anomaly, but as the manifestation of a deeper moral failing. Let us not be deceived into thinking that intelligence alone can safeguard us from harm, for it is the quality of our hearts—our empathy, our capacity for compassion—that ultimately guides our actions. The evil that resides in the hearts of men and women may be of average intelligence, but the goodness that can rise within each of us is boundless, a force more powerful than any mind that seeks to harm. In choosing wisdom, we choose to rise above the ordinary, to live lives marked not by intellect, but by the highest virtues of humanity.