Is it insulting?

I've always been called "hard-working" at work, but never been called smart. In fact, a professor actually said jokingly that I tend to not use my brains. And implied that I'm not very bright.
I wonder then if being hardworking makes it a joke if I'm not smart enough.

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DrWatson · 70-79, M

I am a college mathematics professor.

I remember, years ago, two of our graduating seniors were applying to graduate school. As I recall, they actually decided to go to the same one.

One of my colleagues was talking to me about the letters of recommendation we were writing. He said that he thought Student A was much stronger mathematically then Student B, but if he had to place money on which one would successfully complete a PhD in mathematics, it was Student B.

And he was write. Student A was bright but undisciplined. Student B was disciplined and hard-working.

And that is not an insult. Student A dropped out of grad school. Student B is now a mathematics professor.