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Stupidity


Stupidity

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Quotations

Isaac AsimovWhen stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.

—  Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, American Sci-Fi writer

212 likes
Mark TwainNever argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

118 likes
George CarlinThink of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

—  George Carlin, 1936-2008, American comedian

80 likes
Ricky GervaisRemember, when you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It is only painful for others. The same applies when you are stupid.

—  Ricky Gervais, 1961-, British comedian & screenwriter

75 likes
George CarlinNever underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

—  George Carlin, 1936-2008, American comedian

65 likes
Benjamin FranklinAny fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

63 likes
Mark TwainIt is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

44 likes
CiceroAny man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

44 likes
NapoleonIn politics, stupidity is not a handicap.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

35 likes
Mark TwainSuppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

35 likes
Albert EinsteinTwo things are infinite: the universe and the human stupidity.

—  Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-Jewish physicist

32 likes
Stanislaw Jerzy LecThe only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him

—  Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, 1906-1966, Polish author of maxims

28 likes
Bertrand RussellThe whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

—  Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British philosopher

26 likes
QuintilianThose who wish to appear wise among fools, they seem foolish among the wise.

—  Quintilian, 35-96 AD, Roman rhetorician

22 likes
H.L. MenckenNobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

—  H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American columnist & cultural critic

21 likes
NapoleonThe fool has one great advantage over a man of sense: he is always satisfied with himself.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

20 likes
Charles de GaulleYou may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.

—  Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President

20 likes
Karl KrausThe secret of the demagogue is to make himself as stupid as his audience so they believe they are clever as he.

—  Karl Kraus, 1874-1936, Austrian writer

20 likes
Erica JongYou see a lot of smart guys with dumb women, but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb guy.

—  Erica Jong, 1942-, American writer

19 likes
TalleyrandTo succeed in the world, it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discern who is a fool, than to discover who is a clever man.

—  Talleyrand, 1754-1838, French statesman & diplomat

16 likes
G. K. ChestertonTo be clever enough to get all that money, one must be stupid enough to want it.

—  G. K. Chesterton, 1874-1936, English writer & critic

16 likes
William ShakespeareThe fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.

—  William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English poet & playwright ‐ As You Like It

16 likes
NapoleonNever ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

15 likes
Dave LettermanIf what you've done is stupid, but it works… then it really isn't all that stupid.

—  Dave Letterman, 1947-, American TV talk show host

13 likes
Oliver W. Holmes Sr.Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way, and the fools know it.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

13 likes
George Bernard ShawI have defined the hundred per cent American as ninety-nine per cent an idiot.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

13 likes
Bill WattersonIn my opinion, we don’t devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks.

—  Bill Watterson, 1958-, American cartoonist

12 likes
Friedrich NietzscheForgetting our intentions is the most frequent of all acts of stupidity.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

12 likes
Arthur SchopenhauerThe more unintelligent a man is, the less mysterious existence seems to him.

—  Arthur Schopenhauer, 1788-1860, German philosopher

12 likes
Oscar WildeThere is no sin except stupidity.

—  Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, Irish writer

12 likes
Fernando PessoaNo intelligent idea can gain general acceptance unless some stupidity is mixed in with it.

—  Fernando Pessoa, 1888-1935, Portuguese poet & writer

12 likes
Lyndon JohnsonJerry Ford is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time.

—  Lyndon Johnson, 1908-1973, American President [1963-1969]

12 likes
Pliny the ElderThe best plan is to profit by the folly of others.

—  Pliny the Elder, 23-79 μ.X., Roman natural philosopher

12 likes
Wilson MiznerA fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions.

—  Wilson Mizner, 1876-1913, American playwright

10 likes
Georges FeydeauIf it comes in one ear and it comes out immediately by the other, it's because, between the two, there is nothing to hold it.

—  Georges Feydeau, 1862-1921, French playwright

10 likes
H.L. MenckenIt is the dull man who is always sure, and the sure man who is always dull.

—  H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American columnist & cultural critic

9 likes
Joseph CampbellWisdom and foolishness are practically the same. Both are indifferent to the opinions of the world.

—  Joseph Campbell, 1904-1987, American academic

9 likes
Dorothy ParkerI require three things in a man: he must be handsome, ruthless, and stupid.

—  Dorothy Parker, 1893-1967, American writer, poet, satirist, critic

8 likes
Stefan ZweigWhy is it that the stupidest people are always the most good-natured?

—  Stefan Zweig, 1881-1942, Austrian writer

8 likes
George Bernard ShawA fool’s brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

7 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerA Fool’s Tongue is long enough to cut his own Throat.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

6 likes
Eugene IonescoI didn't mean you were stupid. It's just that you're not logical, which isn't the same thing at all.

—  Eugene Ionesco, 1912-1994, French-Romanian playwright

5 likes
Fyodor DostoyevskyA fool with a heart and no sense is just as unhappy as a fool with sense and no heart.

—  Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821-1881, Russian writer

5 likes
Theodore AdornoMysticism is the metaphysics of idiots.

—  Theodore Adorno, 1903-1969, German philosopher

5 likes
Robert HeinleinNever attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.

—  Robert Heinlein, 1907-1988, American sci-fi writer

5 likes
Alice Roosevelt LongworthI ‘ve always believed in the adage that the secret of eternal youth is arrested development.

—  Alice Roosevelt Longworth, 1884-1980, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt

5 likes
Paul ValeryStupidity is not my strong point.

—  Paul Valery, 1871-1945, French poet

4 likes
Arthur ClarkeThe phenomenon of UFO doesn't say anything about the presence of intelligence in space. It just shows how rare it is here on the earth.

—  Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008, British Sci-Fi writer

3 likes
Susan SontagI like to feel dumb. That’s how I know there’s more in the world than me.

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

3 likes
Gustave FlaubertTo be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Bertrand RussellA stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.

—  Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British philosopher

Franz KafkaIt's only because of their stupidity that they're able to be so sure of themselves.

—  Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Bohemian writer

George EliotI'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

Kin HubbardSome fellows get credit for being conservative when they are only stupid.

—  Kin Hubbard, 1868-1930, American cartoonist

Marie von Ebner-EschenbachAn intelligent woman has millions of born enemies: all the stupid men.

—  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830-1916, German author of maxims

John SteinbeckSometimes a man wants to be stupid, if it lets him do a thing his cleverness forbids.

—  John Steinbeck, 1902-1968, American writer, Nobel 1962

John SteinbeckAll war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.

—  John Steinbeck, 1902-1968, American writer, Nobel 1962

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.Stupidity often saves a man from going mad.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Gustave FlaubertThe whole dream of democracy is to raise the proletarian to the level of bourgeois stupidity.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Gustave FlaubertNothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Jean de La BruyèreIf poverty is the mother of all crimes, lack of intelligence is the father.

—  Jean de La Bruyère, 1645-1696, French writer

Jean de La BruyèreThere are only two ways of getting on in the world: by one's own industry, or by the stupidity of others.

—  Jean de La Bruyère, 1645-1696, French writer

Anatole FranceStupidity is far more dangerous than evil, for evil takes a break from time to time, stupidity does not.

—  Anatole France, 1844-1924, French writer, Nobel 1921

Terry PratchettThe intelligence of that creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

Terry PratchettReal stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

Henry de MontherlantHuman stupidity is having a lot of ideas, but stupid ideas.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Jorge Luis BorgesFootball is popular because stupidity is popular.

—  Jorge Luis Borges, 1899-1986, Argentine writer

Pierre Claude BoisteTalking to fools is like lighting a torch for the blind.

—  Pierre Claude Boiste, 1765-1824, French lexicographer

Alexandre DumasI prefer the wicked rather than the foolish. The wicked sometimes rest.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

Alexandre Dumas, filsHow is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.

—  Alexandre Dumas, fils, 1824-1895, French writer

Alexandre Dumas, filsThe difference between genius and stupidity is this: genius has its limits.

—  Alexandre Dumas, fils, 1824-1895, French writer

Frank ZappaThere is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.

—  Frank Zappa, 1940-1993, American musician

Douglas AdamsHe was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.

—  Douglas Adams, 1952-2001, British Sci-Fi writer

H.L. MenckenThe kind of man who wants the government to adopt and enforce his ideas is always the kind of man whose ideas are idiotic.

—  H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American columnist & cultural critic

Saul BellowReadiness to answer all questions is the infallible sign of stupidity.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

Edgar Allan PoeStupidity is a talent for misconception.

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

Nicolas ChamfortIntelligent people make many mistakes because they cannot believe the world is really as foolish as it is.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Nicolas ChamfortThere are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Milan KunderaThe stupidity of people comes from having an answer for everything. The wisdom of the novel comes from having a question for everything.

—  Milan Kundera, 1929-2023, Czech writer

Francis Scott FitzgeraldI hope she'll be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.

—  Francis Scott Fitzgerald, 1896-1940, American writer

Nicolas Gomez DavilaIt is impossible to convince the fool that there are pleasures superior to those we share with the rest of the animals.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Ludwig WittgensteinIf people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

Remy de GourmontIt was an accident that has endowed man with intelligence. He has made use of it: he invented stupidity.

—  Remy de Gourmont, 1858-1915, French poet

Bible Quotes

Old TestamentAs a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

—  Old Testament ‐ Proverbs 26:11

13 likes
Old TestamentDo not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

—  Old Testament ‐ Proverbs 26:4

10 likes

Latin Quotes

SenecaWhat fools these mortals be!

Tanta stultitia mortalium est.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

33 likes

Funny Quotes

Dave BarryUser: the word computer professionals use when they mean “idiot.”

—  Dave Barry, 1947-, American journalist

8 likes
Rodney DangerfieldI come from a stupid family. During the Civil War my great uncle fought for the West.

—  Rodney Dangerfield, 1924-2004, American comedian

8 likes

Ancient Greek

DemocritusFools live without enjoying life.

Ανοήμονες βιούσι ού τερπόμενοι βιούν.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

28 likes
ThucydidesAlthough we bless your ignorance of evil, we do not envy your stupidity.

Μακαρίσαντες υμών το απειρόκακον ού ζηλούμεν το άφρον.

—  Thucydides, 460-394 BC, Ancient Greek historian

14 likes
EuripidesA fool will think you are an idiot if you talk sense to him.

Δόξει τις αμαθεί σοφά λέγων ουκ ευ φρονεί.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Bacchae

13 likes
DemocritusFor the foolish, not reason but misfortune is the teacher.

Νηπίοισιν ου λόγος, αλλά ξυμφορή γίνεται διδάσκαλος.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

12 likes
AristophanesYour mind, you being here, is elsewhere.

Ο νους δε σου παρών αποδημεί.

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Knights

11 likes
EuripidesOne has to endure the idiocy of those who rule.

Τας των κρατούντων αμαθίας φέρειν χρεών.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Phoenissae

11 likes
HomerOnce a thing has been done, even the fool sees it.

Ρεχθέν δε τε νήπιος έγνω.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad XVII

10 likes
DemocritusIt is better for fools to be ruled than to rule.

Κρέσσον άρχεσθαι τοις ανοήτοισιν ή άρχειν.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

10 likes
MenanderTo make the same mistake twice is not wise.

Το δις εξαμαρτείν τ’ αυτόν ουκ ανδρός σοφού.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

10 likes
Marcus AureliusYou may break your heart, but men will still go on as before.

Ότι ουδέν ήττον τα αυτά ποιήσουσι, καν συ διαρραγής.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VIII, 4

9 likes
DemocritusMany, though widely read, have no sense.

Πολλοί πολυμαθέες νόον ουκ έχουσιν.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

7 likes
Ancient Greek proverbGod makes a fool of whoever he wants to destroy/

Μωραίνει Κύριος ον βούλεται απολέσαι.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

7 likes
EuripidesFoolish strength is very often damaging.

Ρώμη αμαθής πολλάκις τίκτει βλάβην.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Temenidae

5 likes
EuripidesYes, that, too is sad: To have to join company with fools!

Και τούτο λυπρόν: συνασοφείν τοις μη σοφοίς.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

4 likes
EuripidesCrowds with foolishness is a great evil.

Συν όχλω αμαθία πλείστον κακόν.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

4 likes
HesiodFools, they do not even know how much more is the half than the whole.

Νήπιοι, ουδέ ίσασιν όσω πλέον ήμισυ παντός.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -40

4 likes
EuripidesFoolishly speak the foolish.

Μώρα γαρ μώρος λέγει.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Bacchae

3 likes
AthenaeusIf doctors did not exist, there would be none more stupid than teachers.

Ει μη ιατροί ήσαν, ουδέν αν ην των γραμματικών μωρότερων.

—  Athenaeus, 2nd-3rd cent. AD, Ancient Greek writer from Egypt

Proverbs

Yiddish proverbWhen a wise man talks to a fool, two fools are talking.

—  Yiddish proverb

9 likes
Yiddish proverbTwo are embarrassed: the fool in the company of wise men and the wise man in the company of fools.

—  Yiddish proverb

7 likes
English proverbA fool and his money are soon parted.

—  English proverb

6 likes
English proverbThere's no fool like an old fool.

—  English proverb

4 likes

Movie Quotes

Duck Soup (1933)Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.

—  from the film Duck Soup (1933)

7 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






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Ignorance

Incompetence

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Ineffectiveness

Madness

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Misunderstanding

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