So, the first problem is with nomenclature. That's the Y-axis, there's also an X: on one end of this are 'helpless' people, whose actions benefit others and harm themselves on the other are 'bandits,' whose actions harm others and benefit themselves. Diametrically opposed to them are 'stupid' people, whose actions, as stated in Rule 3, always hurt other people and if not actually hurt themselves as well at least do themselves no good. 'Intelligent' people are the gigachads: their actions benefit both themselves and others. A stupid person is more dangerous than a bandit.'įrom there, Cipolla proceeds to divide humanity into four different categories based on the relative consequences of their actions on themselves versus other people. 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 infallibly turns out to be a costly mistake.'ĥ: 'A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person. Let's start out with the basics: the five 'Basic Laws of Human Stupidity,' as written in the front cover of my copy of the book, are:ġ: 'Always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation.'Ģ: 'The probability that a certain person be stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person.'ģ: '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.'Ĥ: 'Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals.
So let me just pound a metaphorical belt of Scotch and deconstruct this bitch.
Well, I REALLY wanted to like this one, and I'm still not exactly sure that I didn't: it's complicated.
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