History Main / ProudScholarRace

* ''Literature/TheChildCycle'': The Exotics are mystics and philosophers with a knack for making these scholarly endeavors profitable. Their relationship with the Warrior Race of Dorsai is quite amiable and the latter often act as their bodyguards and enforcers.

** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': The Angosians from "The Hunted" considers themselves scholars, to the point where they had to create {{Super Soldier}}s to fight their wars for them. It worked until they lost control of their soldiers.

* ''Literature/TheChild Cycle'': The Exotics are mystics and philosophers with a knack for making these scholarly endeavors profitable. Their relationship with the Warrior Race of Dorsai is quite amiable and the latter often act as their bodyguards and enforcers.

* Creator/AndreNorton: The Zacathans, who are experts in knowledge in general and history/archeology in particular.
%%* ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'': The Terrismen.
%%* ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'': The Sartan.

* ''Literature/EmeraldPrince'': The Thyreia, who are also a PerfectPacifistPeople. They are shown positively and have a range of personality traits, since the story takes place there.
%%* ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt'': The Beetle-kinden of Collegium. They have a culturally symbiotic relationship with the [[ProudMerchantRace Beetle-kinden of Helleron]].%%How are they examples?

* ''Literature/AdventureHunters'' has gargoyles who are famous for being grade A historians. [[LivingForeverIsAwesome Living for an extraordinarily long time]] is helpful in this regard.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': The Andalites mostly fall under the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, but surprisingly fit this trope too--while males are supposed to be warriors, females are generally either scientists or artists, and the Andalites seem to be the dominant species in Earth's section of the galaxy as a result. It's actually shown that the conflict with the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerks]] is what drove them to put their warrior culture on a pedestal. Before that, they were far more interested in art and science overall, and even after the war started they believe that a warrior should be intelligent and educated as well.

* ''Literature/TaraDuncan'': The vampire are portrayed as very scholar guys, mostly working on science and philosophy. However, Tara mostly sees them at the "cold" side of this trope, noting their diplomats are polite but not nice, and their elected president, not as easygoing as most kings. Elves in this verse, on the other hand, are hot-blooded.
* In ''Literature/TheSagaOfTheBordenlands'', by the argentine Liliana Bodoc, [[MayIncaTec the Zitzahay]] are an example, or at least their leaders are, the Supreme Astronomers, magicians and scholars. They have an army, but they have not participated in wars for many generations.

* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** The Ancients may have been this at various points in their history. In the various Stargate series, we end up seeing things the Ancients did at vastly separated parts of their history, so their characterization changed accordingly.
** Both the Asgard and the Nox. The Asgard are an odd example as they are named after (or, in-universe, inspired the legends of) Myth/NorseMythology, generally much less scholarly than most.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': The Minbari fit this trope very well, ''especially'' the religious caste. At least as much psi potential as any other race, one of the "elder" races, on relatively good terms with the {{Precursors}}, CrystalSpiresAndTogas, ApeShallNeverKillApe (very common in SpaceElves if they're not straight-up PerfectPacifistPeople), and loads of CulturalPosturing and CantArgueWithElves.

* ''Series/TheOrville'': Surprisingly, the Xelayans, despite their HeavyWorlder race being famous for their SuperStrength. Alara is constantly berated by her parents for choosing to become an officer in the Planetary Union rather than get a "proper" higher education. When Alara points out that other cultures, like humans, see the military as an honorable profession, they express their view of humans as the "hillbillies of the galaxy".

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
** The Eldar, being SpaceElves, naturally believe themselves to be this and in fact the only hope the galaxy has against Chaos. Note that this only applies to Craftworld Eldar who survived [[NegativeSpaceWedgie the birth of Slaanesh]], the Dark Eldar (descendants of the Eldar who caused said birth) are a Proud Sadist Race, and the Exodite Eldar are those who pulled a ScrewThisImOutOfHere before the inevitable happened.
** The Ethereal caste of the Tau project this image (the Fire Caste and Water Caste being ProudWarriorRace and [[ProudMerchantRace Proud Merchant/Diplomat Caste]]), though it's a little more sinister than the usual trope (it's implied they exercise some form of mind control over other Tau and some of the species of the Tau'va).
%%* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'': The Darrians.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': If the Garundi humans have a [[PlanetOfHats hat]], it's this. Their various nations are typically ruled, or at least heavily influenced, by mages, scholars, and alchemists.

* ''TableTopGame/TwilightImperium'': The Hylar are ruled by a government that is called the Universities of Jol-Nar. They also fulfill the "stuffed-up jerks" part of this trope, an attitude which bit them in the ass big time at least once, when it didn't occur to them they need the other races as much as these needed their science.

* ''TabletopGame/TheSplinter'': The Tzaetzi and Mnemonics are primarily interested in discovering and studying the history and technology of The Realm, respectively.

* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'':
** Scientific Race: the "Erudite Explorer" AI personality, the Lokken Mechanists and the Voor Technocracy preset empires, and the Keepers of Knowledge [[VestigialEmpire fallen empires]]. Also, any player-race that embraces the materialist ethic. (Especially the Science Directorate government in which the only leaders eligible for presidency are scientists.)
** Mystic Race: the "Spiritual Seeker" AI personality, the Scyldari Confederacy preset empire, and the Holy Guardians fallen empires. Player races that embrace spiritualist ethic -- especially those that actually choose the spiritualist ascension path - are also this trope.
* ''VideoGame/OuterWilds'': The nomai fit this trope to a t. Their philosophy centers around identifying and explaining the natural world, and their scientific endeavors range from gravitational manipulation to teleportation to [[spoiler:time travel]]. At the same time, their technology tends towards CrystalSpiresAndTogas, and their cities prominently feature shrines and temples. Other nomai clans are implied to stick more towards the scientific side of this trope, but still play it fairly straight.

* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': Most of what we learn about the Vorts imply this trope--most of the Irkens' advanced technology came from them, both before and after their planet was conquered.

* The Tuffles from ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' were a ''very'' science-driven race, and lived on the same planet as (and were ultimately overthrown by) the Saiyans, the very epitome of a Proud Warrior Race.
* The Silver Tribe in ''Anime/HeroicAge'' is pretty much a textbook example of this. Space Elves: check. Unmatched Psychic: check. Aloof and Detached: check. Detests humans: check. Crystal Spires: check. Precursors bond: check.
* The elves in ''Manga/TalesOfWeddingRings'' dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge, conducting research on whatever topics strike their fancy throughout their lives. When an elf dies, their writings are stored in the [[GreatBigLibraryOfEverything Romca library]] with as much reverence as a corpse being interred in a mausoleum; indeed, this library is their equivalent of a graveyard.

* [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Krypton]] worshiped Science, in some versions.
* The High Ones in ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'' shapechanged themselves ''into'' elves, but only after becoming planetbound. Their descendants ''did'' eventually make it back into space, though, if the ''Jink'' storyline is taken as canon.
* The Coluans from the ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' in the Franchise/DCUniverse. Depending on the version, the Coluans themselves are usually well-intentioned enough, but the [[AIIsACrapshoot rebellious computers]] who conquered their planet (and gave rise to ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}) were jerks.
* By contrast, the Psions from ''ComicBook/OmegaMen'' are disgustingly amoral, being essentially an entire race of [[ThoseWackyNazis Dr. Mengele]] {{expies}} [[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE]]. They are the unfortunate result of an early experiment in [[UpliftedAnimal Animal Uplifting]] by the Guardians of the Universe (of all people). Speaking of whom...
* The Guardians of the Universe from ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Traditionally portrayed as one of the [[BigGood Big Goods]] of the DC Universe, although they've undergone some CharacterDerailment into arrogance and stupidity lately.
** The Controllers are an offshoot of the Guardians, and have always been more prone to arrogant, jerkass behavior than the Guardians themselves.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Prior to being [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 rebooted]] as a society stuck in the Bronze Age Post-ComicBook/{{Crisis|OnInfiniteEarths}} the Amazons of Paradise Island often came off this way. They had developed a range of impressive tech including having their own space worthy fleet before any other nation on earth had made it into orbit, invisible aircraft and medical advances which combined magic with lasers but generally didn't share any of these advances with their supposed allied nations like the United States. The Phil Jiminez and second Greg Rucka runs restored many of these elements to the Amazons.

* In Gordon Dickson's The Childe Cycle we have the Exotics who are mystics and philosophers with a knack for making these scholarly endeavors profitable. Their relationship with the Warrior Race of Dorsai is quite amiable and the latter often act as their bodyguards and enforcers.
* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'', every member of the Insequent race is apparently a wizard who acquired his/her powers through millennia of specialized study. From the same series, the ur-viles are a rare ''evil'' version, though [[spoiler: they end up switching sides]].
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/FoundationSeries'':

* The Noldorin elves from ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' started off as this, before being partially corrupted by their desire for revenge against [[BigBad Morgoth]] and becoming a ProudWarriorRace. Later, in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Faramir laments that his people, the Gondorians, are a ProudScholarRace who are becoming a ProudWarriorRace.
* The Anophelii in Creator/ChinaMieville's ''Literature/TheScar''. At least, the men. The women, on the other hand...
* The Zacathans in Creator/AndreNorton's works, who are experts in knowledge in general and history/archeology in particular.
* The Terrismen from ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}''.
* The Sartan from ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle''.
* The Alethi from ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' manage to be both a ProudScholarRace ''and'' a ProudWarriorRace, due to their society's incredibly strict gender roles- Alethi men are ProudWarriorRaceGuys, and Alethi women are Proud Scholar Race Girls (the divisions are so sharp that it's considered sinful for women to fight, or for men to even ''learn to read'').
* Thyreia in ''Literature/EmeraldPrince''. They are also a PerfectPacifistPeople. They are shown positively and have a range of personality traits, since the story takes place there.
* The Beetle-kinden of Collegium in Adrian Tchaikovsky's ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt'' series. They have a culturally symbiotic relationship with the [[ProudMerchantRace Beetle-kinden of Helleron]].
* The Ogier from ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. Very big on history, arts, craftmanship, public speaking, and gardening. However, while they don't much ''like'' fighting, they're very good at it if sufficiently motivated.

* The Andalites from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' mostly fall under the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, but surprisingly fit this trope too--while males are supposed to be warriors, females are generally either scientists or artists, and the Andalites seem to be the dominant species in Earth's section of the galaxy as a result. It's actually shown that the conflict with the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerks]] is what drove them to put their warrior culture on a pedestal. Before that, they were far more interested in art and science overall, and even after the war started they believe that a warrior should be intelligent and educated as well.
* The Centaurs of the ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'' series. Culturally, they are academics and scholars, though many of the adult males portrayed are {{Genius Bruiser}}s who enjoy a good scrap. The Winged Centaur subspecies shows signs of this but are too busy trying to establish a stable population to embrace that particular [[PlanetOfHats hat]] at the moment.
* In ''Literature/TaraDuncan'', the vampire are portrayed as very scholar guys, mostly working on science and philosophy. However, Tara mostly sees them at the "cold" side of this trope, noting their diplomats are polite but not nice, and their elected president, not as easygoing as most kings. Elves in this verse, on the other hand, are hot-blooded.
* In ''The Saga of the Bordenlands'', by the argentine Liliana Bodoc, [[MayIncaTec the Zitzahay]] are an example, or at least their leaders are, the Supreme Astronomers, magicians and scholars. They have an army, but they have not participated in wars for many generations.

* The Time Lords as originally portrayed on ''Series/DoctorWho''. A {{Retcon}} subsequently made them wear the "decadent and self-involved" rather than "scholarly" [[PlanetOfHats hat]]. Subsequently, it [[DependingOnTheWriter varied from story to story]]. Fanfic tends to emphasize the more alien, aloof, scholastic side of Gallifreyan culture. Regardless, the names of the Doctor and the Master deliberately evoked higher learning. but only those two characters are really active outside Gallifrey. Then the Time War happened...

** The Angosians from the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Hunted" considers themselves scholars, to the point where they had to create {{Super Soldier}}s to fight their wars for them. It worked until they lost control of their soldiers.
** The Vidiians of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' used to be this until they were struck by [[ThePlague the Phage]], driving them to do increasingly terrible things to other species (mostly involving organ harvesting) in order to survive.
* The Ancients may have been this at various points in their history in ''Series/StargateSG1''. In the various Stargate series, we end up seeing things the Ancients did at vastly separated parts of their history, so their characterization changed accordingly.
** Both the Asgard and the Nox, in [[Franchise/StargateVerse the same Verse]]. The Asgard are an odd example as they are named after (or, in-universe, inspired the legends of) Myth/NorseMythology, generally much less scholarly than most.
* The Minbari of ''Series/BabylonFive'' fit this trope very well, ''especially'' the religious caste. At least as much psi potential as any other race, one of the "elder" races, on relatively good terms with the {{Precursors}}, CrystalSpiresAndTogas, ApeShallNeverKillApe (very common in SpaceElves if they're not straight-up PerfectPacifistPeople), and loads of CulturalPosturing and CantArgueWithElves.
* ''[[Series/WonderWoman Wonder Woman TV Series]]'': In this incarnation, Paradise Island’s amazons are PerfectPacifistPeople. In contrast with the ProudWarriorRaceGuy from the comics, the amazons were overpowered by the Nazis in “The Feminum Mystique”. However, the Amazons easily overpower the Nazis once Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl came back to liberate the Isle.
* Surprisingly, the Xelayans in ''Series/TheOrville'', despite their HeavyWorlder race being famous for their SuperStrength. Alara is constantly berated by her parents for choosing to become an officer in the Planetary Union rather than get a "proper" higher education. When Alara points out that other cultures, like humans, see the military as an honorable profession, they express their view of humans as the "hillbillies of the galaxy".

* ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Warhammer 40K]]'':

* The Darrians in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}''.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' tends to have a few scholarly peoples in its racial lineup; the elven subraces tend to lean toward the mystical end of the spectrum. The 4th edition Eladrin, in particular, embody the scholarly side of the elven archetype. [[OurGnomesAreWeirder Gnomes]] also tend to be portrayed in this fashion, whether they're illusionists and wizards, or tinkers and inventors. (The word "gnome", by the way, comes from the Greek word for "to know", and their stereotypical pointed hats may share the symbolic origin of the [[RobeAndWizardHat Wizard Hat]]--that is, the knowledgeable few at the top, above the uneducated masses on the bottom.)
** {{Exaggerated|Trope}} and {{deconstructed|Trope}} in the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting. The gnomes of the nation of Zilargo are known for their intellects. In their land is the largest library (which doubles as the most respected university in the world), as well as the most respected newspaper which is distributed across the continent. Their prowess in elemental binding has made gnomes a match of the various {{Mega Corp}}orations that deal in MagiTek. But the Gnomes' value and thirst of knowledge is so great it has taken a dark side - spying on one's neighbors and family for secrets and blackmail is not only common, but expected. Their entire society is held together by blackmail, and because of their affinity for knowledge, Zilargo is a police state run an intelligence organization that rivals the two {{Mega Corp}}orations that specialize in spying. Criminals in Zilargo are not tried or arrested, they have "[[TheCoronerDothProtestTooMuch accidents]]" or simply vanish. Similarly, it is a common saying that the gnomes do not go to war in the traditional sense - they wage their battles through information warfare and intelligence warfare.

** If the Garundi humans from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' have a [[PlanetOfHats hat]], it's this. Their various nations are typically ruled, or at least heavily influenced, by mages, scholars, and alchemists.
* In TableTopGame/MagicTheGathering, most blue aligned races, as well as blue-aligned humans civilisations, fall under one of these tropes. The Vedalken are probably the most blatant example, because they don't exist outside of the Magic storyline and have no other role to fullfill.
** Same with some of the White aligned races, which tend towards the mystic scholar archetype, like Alara [[BirdPeople Aven]].
* The Hylar from ''TableTopGame/TwilightImperium'' board game are ruled by a government that is called the Universities of Jol-Nar. They also fulfill the "stuffed-up jerks" part of this trope, an attitude which bit them in the ass big time at least once, when it didn't occur to them they need the other races as much as these needed their science.
* The Tremere from ''TableTopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' carry around "proud" by the wheelbarrow-full, having set themselves up as the Camarilla's greatest (and often sole) authority on the mystical arts. Mind you, being vampires, their manner is less "detached, reserved, and philosophical" and more "we're the only ones with the potential to know this, and if you try to know this, we will end you."

* The Tzaetzi and Mnemonics in ''TabletopGame/TheSplinter'' are primarily interested in discovering and studying the history and technology of The Realm, respectively.

* Ko-Matoran in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' universe are not very social, preferring silent studies -- they are the ice tribe after all, and powered or not, Bionicle tribes have PersonalityPowers. Doesn't mean ice Matoran are not nice: it's very hard to anger them.

** Babylon in ''Civ V'' gets a free Great Scientist upon researching Writing, and develops subsequent Great Scientists more quickly, allowing them to build lots of science-producing terrain improvements or just rush individual techs.

* The Sophon of ''Videogame/EndlessSpace'' are a race of incredibly curious tinkerers and scientists with a generally peaceful demeanor, considering war to be a wasteful undertaking pushed on them by warlike aliens; they have a massive science boost and great engines and sensors, but build slowly and can't fight worth a damn. The Pilgrims, a breakaway nation of human scientists and mystics dedicated to studying the [[PreCursors Endless]] have no innate science boosts, but are adept at gaining knowledge from salvaging enemy ships after battle. There's also the [[MechanicalLifeform Automatons]], a race of [[ClockworkCreature clockwork robots]] that dislike combat and prefer to silently [[TerraForm tinker away on planetary ecosystems]]; like the Pilgrims, they receive no innate science bonus, but their vast industrial capacity allows them to pump out science from their extremely well developed solar systems.
** ''Videogame/EndlessLegend'' has the Drakken, a race of [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon-like creatures]] which are amazing diplomats and receive huge science and influence bonuses from analyzing Endless ruins, as they are the [[UpliftedAnimal creations of the Endless]].
* The Vasudans of ''VideoGame/FreeSpace'' consider themselves as such and play up this perception of their culture to the Terrans. In reality, though, they're really not much more advanced than the Terrans in any respect.

* In ''VideoGame/GemsOfWar'', Adana is distinguished from its neighbours by its dedication to scholarship and technology. (Not necessarily ''peaceful'' technology, though — it includes muskets.)
* The Asura from ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'', their intro cinematic sums up things nicely and quickly: "I am Asura. I personify genius." Ironically, the only other race that matches them for technology are the Charr, the ProudWarriorRace guys.
* The asari from the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' games fit the "mystic" description to a T, having superior talents at biotics.

** The asari are the most advanced of the Citadel races. In the third game, we find out that [[spoiler:they are hogging a Prothean beacon that they used to achieve their technological superiority, although [[LastOfHisKind Javik]] claims this was intentional]].
* The Psilons in ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'' (scientists) and the Elerians from the second and third games (mystics, not found in MOO 1)
* The Chozo from ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''. They're not humanoid, but they have great powers, are possibly magical, are wise and knowedgeable, CloserToEarth (or, more accurately, Tallon IV), and are generally mystical. They also fit the Scientific side of the trope: the thing is that they grew so scientifically advanced that they hit a dead end. Since science offered no more answers, they turned to mysticism to complement it. In fact, one game shows that they tried to advise the Bryyonians to strike a balance of science and magic in their society. The Bryyonians failed, which lead to a [[TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar world-ending Magic vs Technology War]]. For added fun, the backstory also establishes that the Chozo were once a ProudWarriorRace before giving it up in favor of becoming this -- hence Samus' power suit and the numerous upgrades for it scattered around the galaxy.
* The D'ni race in the ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'' series lived in a large cavern BeneathTheEarth and spent most of their time developing mining and stoneworking technologies. But moreover, they had the ability to write {{Portal Book}}s to any world they could imagine, and while many of these were used for resource gathering, they were used mostly for exploration and study of various scientific principles. The cornerstone of their society was the guild system and its corresponding set of advanced schools, but they were also deeply religious, being the descendants of a [[SpaceAmish simplistic sect]] that rejected the unscrupulous practices of an older society which was happy to exploit its worlds, and the people within, to the point of ruin. Unfortunately, the D'ni still had a major superiority complex, which led to xenophobia, slavery, and a series of interracial conflicts that undermined and eventually led to the destruction of their civilization.

* The University of Planet in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' are a collection of scientists whose primary goal is the expansion of human knowledge. Admittedly, that process involves a [[ForScience loose interpretaion of ethics and human rights, but....]]
* The Syreen from the ''VideoGame/StarControl'' series of games.
* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' the two Khalai caste Protoss, in contrast to the [[ProudWarriorRace Templar]] and [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Judicators]] who make up most of the Protoss cast in the wargames, are proud and enthusiastic scientists for sure.
* The Krityans from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' would like to believe that they're this. The problem, however, is that most of them are A-Grade {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s who like to prattle on about magic vegetables that probably don't even exist when they're not designing new pieces of technology. The fact that their token "rebellious" representative who ends up in your party is a constantly-sedated BloodKnight who may or may not also be AxCrazy and is considered ''similar'' to the main race speaks volumes. All in all, they're not exactly the best safeguards of the knowledge that a giant space octopus made from global warming is going to utterly rape the planet.
* The Lunarians from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. They see themselves as more spiritually pure than absolutely anyone else who are not Lunarians... scratch that, they believe that they are simply better, period. It's strongly hinted that Lunarians were humans who attained great spiritual height. They have expendable servitors, the {{Moon Rabbit}}s. And just in case anyone is up to challenge their claim: [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy in the past, they thwarted a Youkai invasion from Gensokyo led by Yukari Yakumo]]. Yukari Yakumo is a ''RealityWarper''. Though it's speculated that Yukari [[XanatosGambit intended to lose]] just to teach the Youkai a lesson.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' universe has blood elves for the magic sort and gnomes (the descendants of ancient machines) and arguably [[ProudMerchantRace goblins]] for tech. The draenei are somewhere in between, as they've always been magically-oriented and are implied to have picked up some degree of {{magitek}} knowledge as well. And the tauren are both a ProudScholarRace (of the mystic variety) ''and'' a ProudWarriorRace.
* The Shama'Li in ''VideoGame/WarWind'' live in harmony with Yavaun's ecosystem, have natural magic abilities, and genuinely strive for peace and harmony among all races on the planet (including humans in the second installment). All this doesn't mean they cannot be a dangerous foe in combat, especially when it goes about the weak and oppressed.

** Mystic Race: the "Spiritual Seeker" AI personality, the Scyldari Confederacy preset empire, and the Holy Guardians fallen empires. Player races that embrace spiritualist ethic - especially those that actually choose the spiritualist ascension path - are also this trope.
* The nomai of ''VideoGame/OuterWilds'' fit this trope to a t. Their philosophy centers around identifying and explaining the natural world, and their scientific endeavors range from gravitational manipulation to teleportation to [[spoiler:time travel]]. At the same time, their technology tends towards CrystalSpiresAndTogas, and their cities prominently feature shrines and temples. Other nomai clans are implied to stick more towards the scientific side of this trope, but still play it fairly straight.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* The Loroi from ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'', {{Expies}} of the Elerians from ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'', above.
[[/folder]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim,'' most of what we learn about the Vorts imply this trope--most of the Irkens' advanced technology came from them, both before and after their planet was conquered.

When heroic, the race is quite likely to resemble an idealised depiction of the academic circles of the Ancient Greeks. Expect CrystalSpiresAndTogas or a MarySuetopia. They may or may not be a Higher Tech Species.

* In Gordon Dickson's The Childe Cycle we have the Exotics who are mystics and philosophers with a knack for making these scholarly endeavors profitable. Their relationship with the Warrior Race of Dorsal is quite amiable and the latter often act as their bodyguards and enforcers.

'''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease'''

* The Andalites from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' mostly fall under the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, but surprisingly fit this trope too--while males are supposed to be warriors, females are generally either scientists or artists, and the Andalites seem to be the dominant species in Earth's section of the galaxy as a result. It's actually shown that the conflict with the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerks]] is what drove them to put a their warrior culture on a pedestal. Before that, they were far more interested in art and science overall, and even after the war started they believe that a warrior should be intelligent and educated as well.

* [[{{Superman}} Krypton]] worshiped Science, in some versions.

** TurnedUpToEleven and Deconstructed in the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting. The gnomes of the nation of Zilargo are known for their intellects. In their land is the largest library (which doubles as the most respected university in the world), as well as the most respected newspaper which is distributed across the continent. Their prowess in elemental binding has made gnomes a match of the various {{Mega Corp}}orations that deal in MagiTek. But the Gnomes' value and thirst of knowledge is so great it has taken a dark side - spying on one's neighbors and family for secrets and blackmail is not only common, but expected. Their entire society is held together by blackmail, and because of their affinity for knowledge, Zilargo is a police state run an intelligence organization that rivals the two {{Mega Corp}}orations that specialize in spying. Criminals in Zilargo are not tried or arrested, they have "[[TheCoronerDothProtestTooMuch accidents]]" or simply vanish. Similarly, it is a common saying that the gnomes do not go to war in the traditional sense - they wage their battles through information warfare and intelligence warfare.

** Among the extant [[OurElvesAreDifferent races of Mer (Elves)]], the Altmer (High Elves) best embody the "mystical" aspect of the trope. They are the [[WitchSpecies naturally magically inclined]] race in Tamriel, and also one of the oldest, being the most direct descendants of the Aldmer (First or Old Elves). Though non-Altmer scholars are loathe to admit, Tamriel owes much of its [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas art, science, philosophy, language, and religion]] to the Altmer. The Psijic Order, a monastic [[TheMagocracy magical society]] made up primarily of Altmer (though they do take in worthy members of other races), takes this even further. The have OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness and MysteriousBacker traits, are a RenownedSelectiveMentor that many magically inclined students would kill to join, and generally try to protect the rest of the world from [[TheWorldIsNotReady threats it is not ready to deal with on its own]]. They have so SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic that they are capable of performing feats no other group in Tamriel can match, including {{Telepathy}}, [[TimeStandsStill time-freezing]], AstralProjection, and significant WeatherManipulation.

* The Coluans from the ''ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}'' in the Franchise/DCUniverse. Depending on the version, the Coluans themselves are usually well-intentioned enough, but the [[AIIsACrapshoot rebellious computers]] who conquered their planet (and gave rise to ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}) were jerks.

* The Krityans from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' would like to believe that they're this. The problem, however, is that most of them are A-Grade {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s who like to prattle on about magic vegetables that probably don't even exist when they're not designing new pieces of technology. The fact that their token "rebellious" representative who ends up in your party is a constantly-sedated BloodKnight who may or may not also be AxCrazy and is considered ''NotSoDifferent'' to the main race speaks volumes. All in all, they're not exactly the best safeguards of the knowledge that a giant space octopus made from global warming is going to utterly rape the planet.

* The nomai of ''VideoGame/{{OuterWilds}}'' fit this trope to a t. Their philosophy centers around identifying and explaining the natural world, and their scientific endeavors range from gravitational manipulation to teleportation to [[spoiler:time travel]]. At the same time, their technology tends towards CrystalSpiresAndTogas, and their cities prominently feature shrines and temples. Other nomai clans are implied to stick more towards the scientific side of this trope, but still play it fairly straight.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Prior to being [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 rebooted]] as a society stuck in the Bronze Age Post-ComicBook/{{Crisis|OnInfiniteEarths}} the Amazons of Paradise Island often came off this way. They had developed a range of impressive tech including having their own space worthy fleet before any other nation on earth had made it into orbit, invisible aircraft and medical advances which combined magic with lasers but generally didn't share any of these advances with their supposed allied nations like the United States.

When the Proud Scholar Race and the Proud Warrior Race are in opposition or rivalry, they tend to form an ElvesVersusDwarves dynamic, with the former taking the role of [[CantArgueWithElves the Elves]]. This convergent evolution may be why many scholarly races [[OurElvesAreBetter take on elf-like features]] like [[UnusualEars pointed ears]] and a humanoid appearance. They may still retain nonhuman features such as unusual skin or hair colors, though; pale colors such as light blue are popular. Females of this sort of species tend to overlap with GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe if they're actual aliens.

** Among the extant [[OurElvesAreBetter races of Mer (Elves)]], the Altmer (High Elves) best embody the "mystical" aspect of the trope. They are the [[WitchSpecies naturally magically inclined]] race in Tamriel, and also one of the oldest, being the most direct descendants of the Aldmer (First or Old Elves). Though non-Altmer scholars are loathe to admit, Tamriel owes much of its [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas art, science, philosophy, language, and religion]] to the Altmer. The Psijic Order, a monastic [[TheMagocracy magical society]] made up primarily of Altmer (though they do take in worthy members of other races), takes this even further. The have OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness and MysteriousBacker traits, are a RenownedSelectiveMentor that many magically inclined students would kill to join, and generally try to protect the rest of the world from [[TheWorldIsNotReady threats it is not ready to deal with on its own]]. They have so SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic that they are capable of performing feats no other group in Tamriel can match, including {{Telepathy}}, [[TimeStandsStill time-freezing]], AstralProjection, and significant WeatherManipulation.

* The Lunarians from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. They see themselves as more spiritually pure than absolutely anyone else who are not Lunarians... scratch that, [[OurElvesAreBetter they believe that they are simply better, period]]. It's strongly hinted that Lunarians were humans who attained great spiritual height. They have expendable servitors, the {{Moon Rabbit}}s. And just in case anyone is up to challenge their claim: [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy in the past, they thwarted a Youkai invasion from Gensokyo led by Yukari Yakumo]]. Yukari Yakumo is a ''RealityWarper''. Though it's speculated that Yukari [[XanatosGambit intended to lose]] just to teach the Youkai a lesson.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''{{Literature/Foundation}}'':

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* Rowan Longstripe from ''Literature/{{Tasakeru}}'', though he's more than willing to step up into BadassBookworm territory when necessary.
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* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'': Prior to being [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 rebooted]] as a society stuck in the Bronze Age Post-ComicBook/{{Crisis|OnInfiniteEarths}} the Amazons of Paradise Island often came off this way. They had developed a range of impressive tech including having their own space worthy fleet before any other nation on earth had made it into orbit, invisible aircraft and medical advances which combined magic with lasers but generally didn't share any of these advances with their supposed allied nations like the United States.

[[redirect:ProudScholarRaceGuy]]