Kirk's exploits get so exaggerated, lol. He's a big dork. He's like a nerd who started working out and acting like a tough guy in his 30s. Picard is just the opposite, like a reformed troublemaker.
And even though Picard has the rep of being the one who romanticizes the concept of exploration (studious, reading about old timey ships, etc.), Kirk's geeks out about it so much more: he's obsessed with his ship, he's studied (and seems to genuinely academically enjoy) space battles, and they even gave him that line in the movies: "Second star to the right... and straight on til morning."
Thanks for breaking my brain this morning, Mr Stamets. Now I'll be contemplating this in the shower. If you don't hear from me in a few hours initiate an emergency medial transport for me please.
I'll have you know trombone players aren't the nerds you think they are. Large lung capacity and dexterous tongues make them very popular with the ladies, ifyaknowhatimean
This whole meme hinges on a single line from Gary Mitchell, told, not shown, and it's even followed up with "I knew I could distract you from academia with that little blonde lab technician". Kirk's hardly dumb. An example might be when he engineered gunpowder to kill the Gorn, or his battle of wits with the Romulan commander in Balance of Terror. But usually a broad description of someone like that captures their most prominent trait, and Kirk does not project himself as an intellectual. In fact, having recently rewatched TOS, his leadership style is more swagger and bullying than thoughtfulness.