--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And it makes you wonder—how can a people…" description: "\"And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of selecting their own lightbulbs and toilets possess enough competence to vote for their own rulers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg" --- # And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of… ![“And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of selecting their own lightbulbs and toilets possess enough competence to vote for their own rulers and fill out complicated tax returns?” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg) > “And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of selecting their own lightbulbs and toilets possess enough competence to vote for their own rulers and fill out complicated tax returns?” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People lacking basic technical knowledge can still manage complex civic duties, highlighting paradoxes in competence judgments. **In simple terms:** Even without tech skills, people can handle complex tasks. Key Takeaway Avoid underestimating others' abilities. Themes competence politics technology Mood critical analytical Type questioning insightful When to use this quote - voting - tax filing - public policy debates Key Concepts cognitive bias civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do we make about competence? - How can we support skill gaps without patronizing? A Different Perspective May overlook necessary technical literacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence/) [Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Incapable Selecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable-selecting-6076511/) [Lightbulbs Toilets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightbulbs-toilets-6076512/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-incapable-1105476/) [Possess Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-competence-453131/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Toilets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toilets/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [A life spent ceaselessly trying to please people who, perhaps, are incapable of ever being pleased, or trying too hard to always be seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-life-spent-ceaselessly-trying-to-please-people-who-perhaps-are/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [The idea that people are incapable of making up their own minds about people is something that Obama and his party live with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-idea-that-people-are-incapable-of-making-up-their-own-minds-about/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There are moments when people are incapable of understanding happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-moments-when-people-are-incapable-of-understanding-happiness/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In a way, the world−view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-a-way-the-world-view-of-the-party-imposed-itself-most-successfully/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“You know people like this, right? People who are incapable of enjoying anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/you-know-people-like-this-right-people-who-are-incapable-of-enjoying/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Some people are incapable of perceiving in the object of their contemplation the very thing that gives it its intrinsic life and breath, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/some-people-are-incapable-of-perceiving-in-the-object-of-their-2/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“...some people are incapable of love - they have calloused souls...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/some-people-are-incapable-of-love-they-have-calloused-souls/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [People who are incapable of having any kind of intimate relationship have to turn to feeling this incredible hunger and void, have to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/people-who-are-incapable-of-having-any-kind-of-intimate-relationship/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [People who create things nowadays can expect to be prosecuted by highly moralistic people who are incapable of creating anything. There is no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/people-who-create-things-nowadays-can-expect-to-be-prosecuted-by/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [“I certainly find it difficult to relate to people who seem incapable of doing anything on their own, needing company even whilst simply watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-certainly-find-it-difficult-to-relate-to-people-who-seem-incapable/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [The people who, during the election, were so wise, so moral, so perfect, now have no tendencies whatever; or if they have any, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-people-who-during-the-election-were-so-wise-so-moral-so-perfect/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Some people are incapable of perceiving in the object of their contemplation the very thing that gives it its intrinsic life and breath,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/some-people-are-incapable-of-perceiving-in-the-object-of-their/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“The belief that young people are incapable of making reasonable decisions is a cornerstone of our system of compulsory, closely monitored education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-gray/the-belief-that-young-people-are-incapable-of-making-reasonable/) [Peter O. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-gray/) > [“desperate people are incapable of making good decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kent/desperate-people-are-incapable-of-making-good-decisions/) [Minka Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kent/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Competence quotes > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Over the first two weeks of the Donald Trump administration, Steve Bannon has emerged as one of the most powerful figures in the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goodman/over-the-first-two-weeks-of-the-donald-trump-administration-steve/) [Amy Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goodman/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Great writers zealously learn the craft of their profession so they can release the power and the depth of their imagination and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bishop/great-writers-zealously-learn-the-craft-of-their-profession-so-they/) [Leonard Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bishop/) [Browse all 452 Competence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of selecting their own lightbulbs and toilets possess enough competence to vote for their own rulers and fill out complicated tax returns?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people-incapable-of-selecting-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people-incapable-of-selecting-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/anonymous-1_competence_and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people_3224807.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And it makes you wonder—how can a people incapable of selecting their own lightbulbs and toilets possess…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And it makes you wonder—how can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people-incapable-of-selecting-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-makes-you-wonder-how-can-a-people-incapable-of-selecting-their/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```