Intelligent people often reach the same conclusions independently, used when two people have the same idea.
This phrase appeared in the early 1600s and was often completed with "but fools seldom differ," adding a cautionary note about the difference between wisdom and mere conformity. The shortened version became popular as a complimentary way to acknowledge shared insights or simultaneous discoveries.
The original full phrase "great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ" completely changes the meaning! The addition warns that similarity of thought could indicate either brilliance or stupidity. Most people today only know the first half, turning a nuanced observation about conformity into a simple compliment about intelligence.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.