Stupidity

Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, wit, or sense. The modern English word "stupid" has a broad range of application, from being slow of mind (indicating a lack of intelligence, care or reason), dullness of feeling or sensation (torpidity, senseless, insensitivity), or lacking interest or point (vexing, exasperating). It can either infer a congenital lack of capacity for reasoning, or a temporary state of daze or slow-mindedness. This page is for quotes regarding various notions of stupidity.

Quotes

  • We are growing serious, and, let me tell you, that's the very next step to being dull.
  • A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind.
    • Ali, A Hundred Sayings
  • Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are stupider than that.
  • I never heard tell of any clever man that came of entirely stupid people.
  • With various readings stored his empty skull,
    Learn'd without sense, and venerably dull.
  • I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
  • Aristotle taught that the brain exists merely to cool the blood and is not involved in the process of thinking. This is true only of certain persons.
    • Will Cuppy, The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody (1950)
  • The fool of nature stood with stupid eyes
    And gaping mouth, that testified surprise.
  • Why, Sir, Sherry is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature.
  • He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dulness in others.
  • Fervid readiness to judge is the most detestable stupidity, the most pernicious evil.
  • It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful. Ignorance is one thing, but out society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable.
  • The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
    • Bertrand Russell, "The Triumph of Stupidity" (1933-05-10) in Mortals and Others: Bertrand Russell's American Essays, 1931-1935 (Routledge, 1998, ISBN 0-415-17866-5), p. 28
  • Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
    • Against stupidity the very gods
      Themselves contend in vain.
    • Friedrich Schiller, Die Jungfrau von Orleans (The Maid of Orleans, at Project Gutenberg), Act III, scene vi (as translated by Anna Swanwick) (1801)
    • Variants:
      Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
      Against stupidity the gods themselves labor in vain.
      Against stupidity the gods themselves fight unvictorious
      Against stupidity even the gods contend in vain.
      Against stupidity gods themselves contend in vain.
      With stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
      With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.
    • Against Stupidity, The Gods Themselves and Contend In Vain? are the titles of the three parts of Isaac Asimov's book The Gods Themselves
  • A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.
  • There is no sin except stupidity.
  • Weapons-Grade Stupidity: Tech-support slang for customer intelligence that is so low it poses a severe hazard to those who come in contact with it.
  • When the world begets too many fools, nature provides a Foolkiller.
    • Greg Salinger in Issue 10 of Foolkiller limited series (1990-91) (author?)

Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations

Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 758.
  • La faute en est aux dieux, qui la firent si bête.
    • The fault rests with the gods, who have made her so stupid.
    • Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Méchant, II. 7
  • The impenetrable stupidity of Prince George (son-in-law of James II.) served his turn. It was his habit, when any news was told him, to exclaim, "Est il possible?"—"Is it possible?"
  • Schad'um die Leut'! Sind sonst wackre Brüder.
    Aber das denkt, wie ein Seifensieder.
    • A pity about the people! they are brave enough comrades, but they have heads like a soapboiler's.
    • Friedrich Schiller, Wallenstein's Lager, XI. 347
  • Peter was dull; he was at first
    Dull,—Oh, so dull—so very dull!
    Whether he talked, wrote, or rehearsed—
    Still with his dulness was he cursed—
    Dull—beyond all conception—dull.
  • Personally, I have a great admiration for stupidity.
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Last modified on 12 April 2013, at 20:37