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.

10

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

Get

Explore more quotes

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 #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

Facebook:1015260697259391432756 1gc9hds.gyww6u5wmi

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

Facebook:1015260697259391432756 1oofk90.y71rgj5rk9

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

Carlo M. Cipolla

Facebook:1015260697259391432756 1qvlkpx.ya4ydgqfr

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

Facebook:1015260697259391432756 1vrq0jx.bfrlw3766r

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

Carlo M. Cipolla

Facebook:1015260697259391432756 bmrwva.px8lqpk3xr

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

Carlo M. Cipolla

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rises above its own ashes.

Khalil Gibran

I'm just trying to be myself. I'm not trying to be anyone else.

Conor McGregor

The pain comes from knowing that we have never been safe, and therefore will never be safe again. It comes from knowing we can never be so ignorant again. It comes from knowing we can never be children again. Losing innocence. Remembering heaven. That was the essence of hell.

John Jakes

The human race is a very, very magical race. We have a magic power of witches and wizards. We're here on this earth to unravel the mystery of this planet. The planet is asking for it.

Yoko Ono

Everybody's a mix of good and bad choices that they make.

Joel Edgerton

But Nature cast me for the part she found me best fitted for, and I have had to play it, and must play it till the curtain falls.

Edwin Booth

So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.

T. S. Eliot

Record making is an extraordinary experience.

Robbie Robertson

It sounds stupid, but there's nothing like walking down the street and seeing a building that's older than 100 years old. I think London - not to sound pretentious - like New York, it's a big melting pot for all things and it's just got this energy that you can't find anywhere else.

Christian Cooke

Fashion is more about taste than money - you have to understand your body and tailor clothes to your needs; it's all about the fit. I do the alterations myself - I'm quite a seamstress - it's the influence of my Hungarian mother.

Carmen Dell'Orefice

I go on walks during lunch breaks and travel with a fold-up yoga mat. I also love reading by candlelight at night.

Rachel Boston

We believe content relationships are compelling draws even where paid-TV-provided guides are prevalent, such as here in the United States.

Alfred Amoroso

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.

Nancy Pelosi

Meryl Streep is awesome.

Isabelle Fuhrman

At every crisis in ones life it is absolute salvation to have some sympathetic friend to whom you can think aloud without restraint or misgiving.

Woodrow Wilson

If I'm not barefoot, you'll probably find me with a pair of New Balance on. And I'm not one of those hipster-jump-on-the-band-wagon-ironically-cool NB fans. I've been rocking those kicks since they were true nerd shoes. Since the '80s, yo! Word.

Reid Scott

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.

W. Somerset Maugham

Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Everyone who watches me play knows I am an honest player.

Wayne Rooney

I have been fascinated by Dickens worshippers who strenuously deny that he did anything wrong in relation to his wife, even though the record is clear that he did.

Claire Tomalin

Financial freedom is available to those who learn about it and work for it.

Robert Kiyosaki

Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down the rainbow.

Douglas Pagels

God's been good to me, He really has. I don't know why he picked me out... Just think about it: I virtually coached in my hometown. From the middle of the Meadowlands field, it can't be but a couple of miles. I was lucky to do that.

Bill Parcells

The Conservatives over the years have done a great deal, from Sir John A, to Diefenbaker, and others.

Brian Mulroney