The dumbest people I know are those who know it all.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Stupidity is better kept a secret than displayed.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The wise understand by themselves; fools follow the reports of others.
—Tibetan Proverb
It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful.
—Anton LaVey (1930–97) American Occultist, Musician
It is much easier for good to deal with evil than it is for good to deal with stupidity.
—Unknown
Against stupidity; God Himself is helpless.
—Yiddish Proverb
Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
He’s a fool that makes his doctor his heir.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity.
—Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–90) American Entertainer, Singer, Dancer
Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
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
There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
There is no stupid work, there are only stupid people.
—French Proverb
The two most abundant things in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity.
—Harlan Ellison (1934–2018) American Scifi Creator, Scriptwriter
Seriousness is stupidity sent to college.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Obstinacy and vehemency in opinion are the surest proofs of stupidity.
—Bernard Barton (1784–1849) English Quaker Poet, Writer
Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance.
—William Gaddis (1922–98) American Novelist
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
Never ascribe to malice what can perfectly well be explained by stupidity.
—Anonymous
I am patient with stupidity, but not with those who are proud of it.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) English Poet, Critic
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 the friend of evil.
—Anonymous
It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
We never really know what stupidity is until we have experimented on ourselves.
—Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) French Post-Impressionist Painter
Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
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