Why STUPID People Are a Greater Threat to Society Than Criminals | Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“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.
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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.
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For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.”
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~Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and anti-Nazi resistance fighter, identified stupidity as a greater threat than evil itself. Unlike malice, which can be confronted, stupidity is immune to logic, resistant to reason, and dangerously convinced of its own rightness. Bonhoeffer observed how Nazi Germany transformed intelligent individuals into blind followers, illustrating how stupidity spreads in society when people surrender their independent thought for conformity.
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This video explores Bonhoeffer’s insights into stupidity as a socio-psychological phenomenon, showing how it enables authoritarianism, propaganda, and mass manipulation. It also provides practical steps to resist stupidity, such as maintaining critical thinking, avoiding groupthink, recognizing manipulation tactics, and embracing intellectual independence.
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In a world filled with misinformation and blind loyalty, Bonhoeffer’s warning remains more relevant than ever. To combat stupidity, we must stay critical, stay aware, and refuse to be ruled by ignorance.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoReVkF-UZ0