Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Related Quotes

Johann Gottfried Seume

Idleness is the stupidity of the body, and stupidity is the idleness of the mind.

Body | Character | Idleness | Mind | Stupidity |

Jean de La Bruyère

There are only two ways of getting on in the world: by one's own industry, or by the stupidity of others.

Industry | Stupidity | Wisdom | World |

Konrad Adenauer, fully Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer

The good Lord set definite limits on man's wisdom, but set no limits on his stupidity and that's just not fair.

Good | Lord | Man | Stupidity | Wisdom |

Albert Einstein

Only two things are infinite the universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former.

Stupidity | Universe |

Gustave Flaubert

To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.

Good | Health | Stupidity |

Llewelyn Powys

It is the stupidity of our minds that prevents us from seeng existence as a mystery wilder than the dreams of Devil or God.

Devil | Dreams | Existence | God | Mystery | Stupidity |

Christopher Hitchens

Just as you discover that stupidity and cruelty are the same everywhere, you find that the essential elements of humanism are the same everywhere, too.

Cruelty | Stupidity | Cruelty |

Albert Einstein

The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.

Genius | Stupidity |

Lazarus Long, fictional character created by Robert A. Heinlein

Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin; the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.

Crime | Death | Education | Money | Pity | Sin | Stupidity | Victim |

Alfred North Whitehead

Defense of morals is the battle-cry which best rallies stupidity against change.

Battle | Change | Defense | Stupidity |

Elbert Green Hubbard

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Genius | Stupidity |

George Bernard Shaw

There are many paths to knowledge already discovered; and no enlightened man doubts that there are many more waiting to be discovered. Indeed, all paths lead to knowledge; because even the vilest and stupidest action teaches us something about vileness and stupidity and may accidentally teach us a good deal more.

Action | Good | Knowledge | Man | Stupidity | Teach | Waiting |

Henry Miller, aka Henry Valentine Miller

There are lone figures armed only with ideas, sometimes with just one idea, who blast away whole epochs in which we are enwrapped like mummies. Some are powerful enough to resurrect the dead. Some steal on us unawares and put a spell over us which it takes centuries to throw off. Some put a curse on us, for our stupidity and inertia, and then it seems as if God himself were unable to lift it.

Enough | God | Ideas | Stupidity | God |