There is no stupid work, there are only stupid people.
—French Proverb
He’s a fool that makes his doctor his heir.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Stupidity is without anxiety.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Strange as it may seem, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and formal education positively fortifies it.
—Stephen Vizinczey (b.1933) Hungarian-born Canadian Novelist, Literary Critic, Author
I am patient with stupidity, but not with those who are proud of it.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) British Poet, Literary Critic
A stupid man’s report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modem world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?
—Scott Adams (b.1957) American Cartoonist
Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Seriousness is stupidity sent to college.
—P. J. O’Rourke (b.1947) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Man is the inventor of stupidity.
—Remy de Gourmont (1858–1915) French Poet, Novelist, Critic
There is no sin except stupidity.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
—Scott Adams (b.1957) American Cartoonist
Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders.
—Sloan Wilson (1920–2003) American Novelist, Writer
The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
It is much easier for good to deal with evil than it is for good to deal with stupidity.
—Unknown
Our greatest stupidities may be very wise.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
Stupidity has a knack of getting its way.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
To be clever enough to get all that money, one must be stupid enough to want it.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The doctor sees all the weakness of mankind; the lawyer all the wickedness, the theologian all the stupidity.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Against stupidity; God Himself is helpless.
—Yiddish Proverb
Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity.
—Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–90) American Singer, Musician, Dancer, Actor
A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.
—Chinese Proverb
Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked. Good mental machinery ought to break its own wheels and levers, if anything is thrust among them suddenly which tends to stop them or reverse their motion. A weak mind does not accumulate force enough to hurt itself; stupidity often saves a man from going mad.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
The Cardinal is at his wit’s end—it is true that he had not far to go.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Just as the performance of the vilest and most wicked deeds requires spirit and talent, so even the greatest demand a certain insensitivity which under other circumstances we would call stupidity.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
We never really know what stupidity is until we have experimented on ourselves.
—Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) French Post-Impressionist Painter
In politics stupidity is not a handicap.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
To be stupid, and selfish, and to have good health are the three requirements for happiness; though if stupidity is lacking, the others are useless.
—Gustave Flaubert (1821–80) French Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Never ascribe to malice what can perfectly well be explained by stupidity.
—Anonymous
There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Tell a man something is bad, and he’s not at all sure he wants to give it up. Describe it as stupid, and he knows it’s the better part of caution to listen.
—David Seabury (1885–1960) American Psychologist
The greatest of all sins is stupidity.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity.
—Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman
The dumbest people I know are those who know it all.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
There is no one thoroughly despicable. We cannot descend much lower than an idiot; and an idiot has some advantages over a wise man.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Stupidity is better kept a secret than displayed.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Most fools think they are only ignorant.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
—Unknown
Stupidity is the friend of evil.
—Anonymous
There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings. It is better not to be different from one’s fellows. The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live, undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet. They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it, from alien hands. Your rank and wealth, Harry; my brains, such as they are- my art, whatever it may be worth; Dorian Gray’s good looks- we shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.
—Frank Zappa (1940–93) American Rock Guitarist, Singer, Composer
The key to the age may be this, or that, or the other, as the young orators describe; the key to all ages is—Imbecility; imbecility in the vast majority of men, at all times, and, even in heroes, in all but certain eminent moments; victims of gravity, custom, and fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher