--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I have brought any message today, it…" description: "\"If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg" --- # If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the… ![“If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg) > “If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates embracing perceived foolishness for higher truth, despite societal disdain. **In simple terms:** Be brave to seem foolish for deeper wisdom. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and stand against elitism. Themes courage wisdom humility faith social criticism Mood defiant reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - personal integrity - public speaking - teaching - spiritual practice Key Concepts Stoicism Christian martyrdom cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance wisdom with humility? - What risks arise from rejecting societal norms? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as endorsing anti‑intellectualism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools...and He has not been disappointed…If I have brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/god-assumed-from-the-beginning-that-the-wise-of-the-world-would-view/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Devout Christians are destined to be regarded as fools in modern society. We are fools for Christ's sake. We must pray for courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/devout-christians-are-destined-to-be-regarded-as-fools-in-modern/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“Socrates says we must be either fools because we think we are wise, or wise because we know we are fools. Christ says we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/socrates-says-we-must-be-either-fools-because-we-think-we-are-wise-or/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Serenity courage and wisdom : armour in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/serenity-courage-and-wisdom-armour-in-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/courage-and-wisdom-are-indeed-rarities-amongst-men-but-of-all-that-is/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Had courage, wisdom, and reason always prevailed in people, there would not have been oppressions and oppressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameen-rihani/had-courage-wisdom-and-reason-always-prevailed-in-people-there-would/) [Ameen Rihani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ameen-rihani/) > [Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-hennacy/love-without-courage-and-wisdom-is-sentimentality-as-with-the/) [Ammon Hennacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-hennacy/) > [“Watch out for these two kind of fears: the fear of God that gives courage and wisdom to overcome the fears in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/watch-out-for-these-two-kind-of-fears-the-fear-of-god-that-gives/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Leadership is only courage and wisdom, and a great carefulness of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/leadership-is-only-courage-and-wisdom-and-a-great-carefulness-of-self/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [It is not the intelligence & smartness of a person for other people to realize why a man or a woman can explain things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-tien/it-is-not-the-intelligence-smartness-of-a-person-for-other-people-to/) [Richie Tien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-tien/) > [“Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity . . . and the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-scalia/have-the-courage-to-have-your-wisdom-regarded-as-stupidity-and-the/) Anton Scalia > [I admire the courage and wisdom of Socrates in everything he did, said--and did not say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-admire-the-courage-and-wisdom-of-socrates-in-everything-he-did-said/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Never be afraid to be honest and stand up for what is right, Stella,” he said pointedly. “Just remember to balance your courage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-m-draper/never-be-afraid-to-be-honest-and-stand-up-for-what-is-right-stella-he/) [Sharon M. Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-m-draper/) > [Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads. Erica Jong To Cowardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/everyone-has-talent-what-is-rare-is-the-courage-to-follow-that-talent/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“The Fool card represented one who walked without fear, aware of the choices she made in the journey of life, life itself being defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/the-fool-card-represented-one-who-walked-without-fear-aware-of-the/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) ## More by Antonin Scalia > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/burning-the-flag-is-a-form-of-expression-speech-doesn-t-just-mean/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The court's job is to uphold the Constitution and you don't call that off in times of crisis. Would the framers have allowed this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-job-is-to-uphold-the-constitution-and-you-don-t-call-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We have laws against torture. The Constitution says nothing whatever about torture. It speaks of punishment; 'cruel and unusual' punishments are forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/we-have-laws-against-torture-the-constitution-says-nothing-whatever/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Many think it not only inevitable but entirely proper that liberty give way to security in times of national crisis--that, at the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/many-think-it-not-only-inevitable-but-entirely-proper-that-liberty/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [ Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality \[whatever that means\] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/who-ever-thought-that-intimacy-and-spirituality-whatever-that-means/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I'm nervous about our civic culture. I'm not sure the Internet is largely the cause of it. It's certainly the cause of careless writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-m-nervous-about-our-civic-culture-i-m-not-sure-the-internet-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [On this day, when we're celebrating our constitutional heritage, I urge you to be faithful to that heritage - to impose on our fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/on-this-day-when-we-re-celebrating-our-constitutional-heritage-i-urge/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) [Explore all 146 Antonin Scalia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) Kristen Armstrong > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonin Scalia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/antonin-scalia-2855_courage_if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-i_145531.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity…” — Antonin Scalia", "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": "Antonin Scalia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I have brought any message...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/#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 } } ] } ```