From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: If you could become brilliant by having a visible scar stretching from your mouth to your ear, would you?

Now, before you start frantically typing “no way” in the comments, hear me out. Sure, a facial scar might not be the most fashionable accessory, and you might get a few odd looks at the grocery store. But think about the perks of being brilliant! You could solve complex equations in your sleep, write award-winning novels, or even cure the common cold. Plus, you’d be the most interesting person at any dinner party.

Personally, I’d be tempted to go for it. I mean, who needs a flawless complexion when you’ve got a brain that could rival Stephen Hawking’s? And let’s be real, scars are pretty badass. You could come up with all sorts of wild stories about how you got it. “Oh, this old thing? I got it while wrestling a bear in the Siberian wilderness.” Or, channeling your inner Joker, you could spin a different tale every time someone asks. Keep ’em guessing, I say.

Of course, there are a few practical concerns to consider. Eating might be a bit of a challenge at first, and you can probably kiss your modeling career goodbye. But hey, small price to pay for the ability to solve the world’s problems and be the smartest person in any room.

So, dear readers, what say you? Would you take the scar-for-brilliance trade? Are you willing to sacrifice a little vanity for a whole lot of brainpower? Let me know in the comments below. And if you do decide to go for it, be sure to come back and share your scar stories with us. We promise not to believe a word of them.