The intelligent person, young or old, meeting a new situation or problem, opens himself up to it; he tries to take in with mind and senses everything he can about it; he thinks about it, not about himself or what it might cause to happen to him; he deals with it boldly, imaginatively, resourcefully, and if not confidently at least hopefut hopefully; if he fails to master it, he looks without shame or fear at his mistakes and learns what he can from them