‘Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed — in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical — and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.
For anyone who doesn’t know who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was:
was a German Lutheran pastor, neo-orthodox theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity’s role in the secular world have become widely influential; his 1937 book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic.[1] Apart from his theological writings, Bonhoeffer was known for his staunch resistance to the Nazi dictatorship, including vocal opposition to Nazi euthanasia program and genocidal persecution of Jews.[2] He was arrested in April 1943 by the Gestapo and imprisoned at Tegel Prison for 1½ years. Later, he was transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp [where he was executed by hanging].
Because stupidity can be used as a mask for malice
Plausible deniability … generally doing things and pretending that you have no knowledge or awareness of what happened so its not your fault and you have no responsibility
It’s modern day politics and race baiting these days … you say one thing to be an absolute turd and when you get called on it all, you deny everything, redirect, and ignore everything … your malicious self keeps hiding behind the mask of stupidity to keep doing whatever it is you want to say or do all the time … then do it again and again until your behaviour is so normalized that it’s no longer seen as malicious or stupid … it’s just normal now.
Also, a malicious individual can use stupidity of the masses to get in power and get their way
No its malice manipulating stupid that is the real danger
And also malice masquerading as stupidity. George Bush and Trump in the US, and Boris Johnson in the UK.
Im unfamiliar with Bush’s brand of evil, save for the WMD shenanigans, but there’s no way 3 people in my lifetime have been in charge while also being as stupid as they present themselves.
Im twice as smart as they acted and I struggle to get Team Leader position in a factory. Something is fucky.
Edit : probably a lot more leaders in a lot more countries playing the lovable bumbling “aw he’s trying his best” card.
When you type Bush you actually type Dick Cheney. Taking in that, you begin to get the hang of Bush administration
Both can be true.
Coupled with aggressively willful ignorance from the masses and deliberate lies from leaders, media, and social media and we get what we have with the Reich Wing in the US today.
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“Ignorance is the only evil” — Socrates oe smth
