It always feels so good to listen to students' questions during an informal discussion. In such an environment, I have found students speaking their heart out to relieve themselves of the suffocation caused by the unasked question which becomes more suffocating if it remains unanswered.

The questions vary on a wide range of topics — some academic, some personal and occasionally philosophical. Among these questions, sometimes, lands a question that begs deep thought and productive debate. One such question was asked, though very casually: "Is there any relationship between intelligence and morality?" And such questions can never be expected on a Procrustean bed.

I told students that if they could think up solutions to their daily problems, if they knew how to deal with urgencies, or if they felt the pain when they saw people around in distress, they were intelligent by all means. They possess what the grade seekers don't: empathetic imagination. Only imagination can turn intelligence into moral thinking. Albert Einstein said: "Imagination is........

© The Express Tribune