Forrest’s low IQ does not stop him from understanding the most important things in life. When reading Forrest Gump, it is worth considering the various and varied types of intelligence. Forrest shows aptitude for, even excellence in, music, chess, combat strategy, bravery, wrestling, and mathematics. People who consider themselves more intelligent than he still rely on him to solve their problems. He has more experience, although he may never have book smarts. Intelligence alone is not enough to guarantee that a life will be well-lived. 

Forrest does whatever makes sense to him, and he tends to interpret everything through the binary lenses of right vs. wrong. He is mostly unwilling to do things that feel wrong to him, and the things that feel right are among the cardinal virtues. He acts in loyalty, love, compassion, and towards the eradication of unnecessary suffering. He is also humble and admits mistakes when he makes them. He is utterly without guile, and manages to serve as a role model for all other characters in the book.