The world is full of geniuses, and the wacky world of The Far Side is certainly no different. With that being said, as intimidating as these intellectuals can be, they aren't always operating at peak performance. In fact, the smartest among us can behave like outright buffoons on occasion, and these Far Side comics prove it.

The smartest among us can behave like outright buffoons on occasion, and these Far Side comics prove it.

The cartoons in this list feature the various ways that science experiments going horribly wrong to famous figures from history being exposed as less smart than they're believed to be, the scenes depicted in these comics offer a less flattering look at those who boast about their intelligence. Here are 10 Far Side comics that put smart people in their place for a change.

10 The Far Side Proves That Gifted Students Aren't Always the Smartest

First Published: November 24th, 1986

This first comic stars none other than Nerdy Kid, one of The Far Side's recurring characters. While his title suggests that he possesses a certain degree of intelligence in contrast to his peers, this cartoon shows that this may not be the case as he struggles with a task that even the biggest dummies can tackle with ease.

The kid pushes against a door as he attempts to enter a building, but he fails to notice that the sign instructs him to "pull" rather than push. What really makes this cartoon funny is that this building houses Midvale School for the Gifted, meaning that this child is considered to be gifted, even though he can't figure out how to open a door correctly.

9 The Far Side's Geniuses Exercise Their Minds, But Not The Way You Think

First Published: May 27th, 1986

If you're familiar with the concept of exercising one's mind, then forget everything you thought you knew about what it means, because this comic gives the phrase a much more literal definition. In this Far Side cartoon, scientists meet up for what the caption describes as "brain aerobics", in which an instructor coaches them to actually exercise their brains through a workout routine that stretches their cerebellums.

Clearly, despite the accolades they presumably have under their belt in order to break into the scientific profession, these geniuses aren't astute enough to realize that exercising the mind doesn't entail an actual exercise regiment. Their smarts may be enough to solve equations, but when it comes to simple , these Far Side scientists are clueless.

8 Even in The Far Side, Nerds Can't Escape Being Subjected to Pranks

First Published: April 23rd, 1990

For all of their intellectual feats, nerds are often subjected to bullying by those who are academically inferior to them, resulting in a recurring trope where they're subjected to juvenile pranks. Larson, in particular, had a knack for making fun of nerds in his work, and in this particular cartoon, a nerd only has himself to blame for his misfortune rather than another's prank.

This Far Side comic takes place in the Old West, as many of Larson's cartoons do. A nerdy cowboy walks out of an old-fashioned outhouse with toilet paper stuck to the spur of his boot, emulating the classic faux pas of leaving a bathroom with toilet paper on the sole of a shoe and thus humiliating someone who should be smart enough to detect such a thing.

7 The Far Side's Scientists Don't Always Pull Off Successful Experiments

First Published: October 30th, 1990

The education system in the world of The Far Side warrants a closer examination, because the scientists that it produces aren't exactly the most skilled in their respective fields. This cartoon shows how a lack of care when dealing with dangerous chemicals can lead to disastrous results, as poor Professor Dickle gets reduced to a gruesome pile of sludge in a laboratory.

To make matters worse, rather than properly dealing with the loss of a peer, the scientists instead decide to study the concoction that has contributed to his gooey state, highlighting the terrible priorities of scientists in a brilliant piece of satire by Larson. Geniuses are as cold as they are calculating, even when a coworker faces a revolting transformation.

6 These Far Side Geniuses Should Get Their Science Degrees Revoked

First Published: December 10th, 1985

Once again, scientists are the target of this Far Side joke. Thankfully, their experiments don't end with potentially fatal consequences, though this one is arguably worse due to how ridiculous it is. These scientists appear to be testing whether animals are capable of kissing, and they're doing so by kissing different creatures one by one. For more Far Side comics featuring zany scientists, check out the gallery below!

One might assume that scientists have better things to do than smooch animals in an effort to test an inane hypothesis, but Larson suggests that they don't. As high and mighty as geniuses are, they can be as silly as any ordinary person, and that warrants a chuckle here as they pucker up for their test subjects.

5 In The Far Side, Geniuses Aren't Quite Smart Enough to Read The Room

First Published: January 2nd, 1981

Not every animal consents to being a test subject for an experiment by The Far Side's scientists, as the elephant in this cartoon demonstrates. These scientists make the mistake of selecting an elephant as the unwilling victim of their strange testing, and their questionable decision-making could cost them their lives - and their reputations as geniuses.

As it turns out, these scientists are trying to determine whether elephants are afraid of mice by dangling them in front of an elephant. Not only is the elephant visibly unafraid, but he looks actively angered at the scholars instead. The elephant isn't afraid of mice, and he definitely isn't afraid of humans, which could result in him striking fear in them as punishment for their misguided study.

4 The Founding Fathers Struggle With Vocabulary in The Far Side

First Published: August 5th, 1982

The Founding Fathers of the United States are frequently praised for their intellects even now, since they were instrumental in crafting documents that made a country what it is today and have stood the test of time. With that said, however, Gary Larson isn't so sure that they were as wise as they're perceived as from a modern perspective by historians.

This Far Side comic focuses on the Founding Fathers as they draft the U.S. Constitution, though they're stuck on the opening line. One of the men asks, "Would that be 'us the people' or 'we the people'?" They can't sort out their grammar, yet their genius serves as the bedrock of an entire country, and Larson masterfully crafts that joke.

3 The Far Side's Scientists Don't Understand Their Own Devices

First Published: January 13th, 1982

In the real world and in The Far Side, scientists are to thank for many innovative creations that have revolutionized all sorts of careers and activities. Unfortunately, scientists can also lose track of what they've built, according to Gary Larson. The scientists in this comic seem to struggle with one of their massive inventions, with four of them having trouble turning it on to start.

One of them finally locates the 'on' switch for the device they're messing with, so this group has at least one person who's clever enough to activate a complicated device. Still, it's funny to see geniuses have difficulty with something as simple as turning a machine on, since it makes them shockingly relatable to readers.

2 In The Far Side, Albert Einstein Couldn't Crack His Most Famous Formula

First Published: January 14th, 1985

This Far Side cartoon centers on a historical figure who's been praised for his impressive mind for generations: Albert Einstein, the physicist who is credited for coming up with the theory of relativity. Here, Larson challenges this monumental legacy by proposing that Einstein himself didn't come up with the formula, and he instead had help from someone who may lack his extensive education.

Einstein fusses over his equation on a chalkboard, scribbling out various different exponents in his fruitless attempts at reaching a solution. Then, a cleaning lady says, "Everything's squared away, yessir, squaaaaaaared away." The dumbfounded look on Einstein's face says it all, as he realizes that an ordinary woman has uncovered a scientific formula that a genius like him couldn't crack.

1 The Far Side's Rocket Scientists Struggle to Live Up To Their Job Title

First Published: 1993

This tenth and final Far Side comic once again stars scientists, and this trio is big enough to it that they aren't as smart as they like to think they are. Yet again, they've constructed something that hasn't panned out like they'd planned, with the invention being a rocket in this instance. Their sketch shows a normal rocket, while their finished product is crooked and lopsided in the wrong places.

As they gaze upon their failed rocket, one of the scientists says, "It's time we face reality, my friends. ... We're not exactly rocket scientists." They may be called rocket scientists on paper, but they must finally acknowledge that they aren't as intelligent as they previously thought. No genius is above criticism, and The Far Side serves as definitive proof of that fact.