Stupid people (bottom left), whose efforts are counterproductive to both their and others' interests.

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Carlo M. Cipolla

11

The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity

This explores the controversial subject of stupidity. Stupid people are seen as a group, more powerful by far than major organizations such as the Mafia and the industrial complex, which without regulations, leaders or manifesto nonetheless manages to operate to great effect and with incredible coordination. by Carlo M. Cipolla

Stupidity

People

Smart

Human behaviour

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Law #1 Always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation.

Carlo M. Cipolla

Law #2 The probability that a certain person (will) be stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person.

Carlo M. Cipolla

Law #3 A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or to a group of persons while himself deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses.

Carlo M. Cipolla

Law #4 Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake.

Carlo M. Cipolla

Law #5 A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person.

Carlo M. Cipolla

A stupid person is more dangerous than a pillager.

Carlo M. Cipolla

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Two factors are important to consider when exploring human behaviour: Benefits and losses that an individual causes to: 1. him or herself and 2. to others.

Torsten Caspar

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Intelligent people (top right), who contribute to society and who leverage their contributions into reciprocal benefits.

Carlo M. Cipolla

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Helpless people (top left), who contribute to society but are taken advantage of by it (and especially by the "bandit" sector of it); note, however, that extreme altruists and pacifists may willingly and consciously (rather than helplessly) accept a place in this category for moral or ethical reasons.

Carlo M. Cipolla

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Bandits (bottom right), who pursue their own self-interest even when doing so poses a net detriment to societal welfare.

Carlo M. Cipolla

My books are always about somebody who is taken from aloneness and isolation - often elevated loneliness - to community. It may be a denigrated community that is filthy and poor, but they are not alone; they are with people.

Chuck Palahniuk

Detroit is a city that really stands out. It's been through a very difficult time. There's been a lot of pain here, and the city, physically, has suffered. You can see it in certain neighborhoods, and there's buildings downtown that have been abandoned.

Michael Imperioli

Writing 'Schottenfreude' has reinforced the fact that there are few, if any, emotions that have not been experienced, and analyzed, by some of the world's greatest writers.

Ben Schott

I felt like I was the only person on the planet with this 'thing called depression', and I remember being frightened. I was knocked out and dopey, and I cried all of the time.

Andy Behrman

I LOOK AT AUTISM LIKE A BUS ACCIDENT, AND YOU DON'T BECOME CURED FROM A BUS ACCIDENT, BUT YOU CAN RECOVER.

Jenny McCarthy

Traditionally, the sample is always better than the stock you deliver to the store.

Calvin Klein

I have always been a Malibu Man, like all actors.

Nick Mancuso

Desire and anger are objects of the mind, but the mind is not yours, nor ever has been. You are choiceless awareness itself and unchanging - so live happily.

Ashtavakra Gita

Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.

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Stelios Haji-Ioannou

I don't think the news department will have to lie down and play dead like it has in the past. By and large the network has been understanding, but then so have I.

Roone Arledge

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Geoffrey Fisher

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Charlize Theron

The Labor party under my leadership is working to bring the Israeli people together from all nationalities in the spirit of the scroll of independence.

Ehud Barak

The windows of my soul I throw wide open to the sun.

John Greenleaf Whittier

I love doing things people don't expect.

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Adulthood is not an age, but a stage of knowledge of self.

John Fowles

I spent more money on one robe than guys spend in five years.

Ric Flair

I don't even know how to speak up for myself, because I don't really have a father who would give me the confidence or advice. And if you're always the new kid, you never get a chance to adapt, so your confidence is just zilch.

Eminem

My interest in foreign policy is above the average voter's interest. That doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it.

Michael Baumgartner

Total war is no longer war waged by all members of one national community against all those of another. It is total... because it may well involve the whole world.

Jean-Paul Sartre

My husband does so many romantic things for me, it's absurd.

Jennifer Beals

The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit.

Thomas Malory

Really, running an underdog, insurgent political campaign against an opponent many folks think can't be beat, and going out and meeting folks and talking about your ideas for America and Washington, is a lot of fun and a real privilege.

Michael Baumgartner