It’s been nearly twenty years since I first heard the expression, but it’s evergreen: there’s no shortage of “really smart” guys tripped up by their ego or their dick.

I’d heard it in a presentation at a conference. A forensic investigation firm was talking about dealing with an insider threat against a public figure. After being identified (or suspecting they were close), that person fled to a non-extradition country ahead of being caught. The investigators were able to entice the person with a lucrative job offer to leave that country for one where he could be arrested. “You super genius, you’re so smart, come work for us and show us how you did it.” Oh noes, they weren’t serious and the guy went to prison.

An incredulous audience member asked how someone could be so stupid, especially if they knew they’d been identified as doing crimes but had successfully gotten away. The aforementioned quote was the reply, and nothing has changed in the nature of “really smart” men since then.