Throughout his career Smale has approached mathematical problems with the scholarship to learn from others, the audacity to be unconstrained by conventional wisdom, and the power and vision to employ new methods and construct original frameworks.
Sa kabuuan ng kanyang karera Smale ay approached matematiko problema sa karunungan upang malaman mula sa iba, ang audacity na kusa sa pamamagitan ng conventional karunungan, at ang kapangyarihan at paningin sa mga upahan bagong pamamaraan at bumuo ng orihinal na frameworks.