In the novel "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card, a character comments sarcastically on someone's lack of ambition by suggesting that if they were intelligent, they would pursue a more stable and respectable profession, such as selling life insurance. This remark highlights societal expectations placed on individuals regarding their career choices and the ways in which people often judge others based on their career paths.

The quote reflects a tension between intellectual pursuits and conventional jobs, implying that there are varying levels of worth attached to different careers. It serves as a critique of the superficial assessments we make about people's intelligence and capabilities based on their chosen professions, urging readers to reconsider how they define success and intelligence.