--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person…" description: "\"“Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person you know cancels out every smart person you know and every good person you know cancels out every evil person..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/audrey-bell-24824_average-joe_maybe-they-do-maybe-every-stupid-person_2724084.jpg" --- # Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person you know cancels… ![“Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person you know cancels out every smart person you know and every good person you know cancels out every evil person you know.” “That’s right. That’s probably why everyone forgot about Jesus and Hitler, and just remembers their un-cancelled out contemporaries…” quote by Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/audrey-bell-24824_average-joe_maybe-they-do-maybe-every-stupid-person_2724084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/audrey-bell-24824_average-joe_maybe-they-do-maybe-every-stupid-person_2724084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/audrey-bell-24824_average-joe_maybe-they-do-maybe-every-stupid-person_2724084.jpg) > ““Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person you know cancels out every smart person you know and every good person you know cancels out every evil person you know.” “That’s right. That’s probably why everyone forgot about Jesus and Hitler, and just remembers their un-cancelled out contemporaries Average Jane and Average Joe,” I said.”” [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that the number of smart and good people is balanced by their opposites, making average figures more memorable. **In simple terms:** Balance of good and bad people. Key Takeaway Don't assume averages reflect reality. Themes balance perception memory morality Mood skeptical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - media analysis - historical study - personal decision making Key Concepts statistics cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What does “average” mean to you? - How does this view affect judgment of historical figures? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-joe/) [Cancelled Contemporaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancelled-contemporaries-2905213/) [Cancels Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancels-evil-2905212/) [Evil Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-person/) [Forgot Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgot-jesus-2467605/) [Good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-person/) [Maybe Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-stupid-274556/) [Smart person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-person/) [Stupid person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-person/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) ## Related quotes > [This is how I am when I'm weak and I have no one esle to turn to … wait I forgot I had jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/this-is-how-i-am-when-i-m-weak-and-i-have-no-one-esle-to-turn-to-wait/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) > [I have never felt comfortable around people who talk about their feelings for Jesus, or any other deity for that matter, because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-never-felt-comfortable-around-people-who-talk-about-their/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Maybe I'm stupid or whatever, but to me if I got a concussion, if I could see straight and I could carry a football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/maybe-i-m-stupid-or-whatever-but-to-me-if-i-got-a-concussion-if-i/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [I start to feel like I can't maintain the facade any longer, that I may just start to show through. And I wish I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-start-to-feel-like-i-can-t-maintain-the-facade-any-longer-that-i-2/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [“Maybe it was stupid and solipsistic, but I liked to think about me. I didn't want to be part of some trend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/maybe-it-was-stupid-and-solipsistic-but-i-liked-to-think-about-me-i/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [Maybe I'm stupid, I don't know. I went to the police and said, 'Why do you want me?' They said, 'Please don't worry, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/maybe-i-m-stupid-i-don-t-know-i-went-to-the-police-and-said-why-do/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [Maybe they are right. Maybe I did get my hopes up too high. Maybe I was in over my head. Maybe I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-they-are-right-maybe-i-did-get-my-hopes-up-too-high-maybe-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Maybe it’s stupid to even articulate such hopes. But, then again, maybe it’s more stupid not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/maybe-it-s-stupid-to-even-articulate-such-hopes-but-then-again-maybe/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [The reason I went for Jenny Craig is I thought, Maybe I'm not the only one who has stupid reasons for getting fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstie-alley/the-reason-i-went-for-jenny-craig-is-i-thought-maybe-i-m-not-the-only/) [Kirstie Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstie-alley/) > [“Maybe I’m stupid. Maybe I’m just as evil as he is by keeping my mouth shut. But he told me once that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-hammond/maybe-i-m-stupid-maybe-i-m-just-as-evil-as-he-is-by-keeping-my-mouth/) [Lauren Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-hammond/) > [“Maybe I was being stupid, but an old faith was stirring inside me, a willingness to lean on the tides of the universe instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-fox/maybe-i-was-being-stupid-but-an-old-faith-was-stirring-inside-me-a/) [Harper Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-fox/) > [Maybe they were right. Maybe I did get my hopes up to high. Maybe I was over my head. Maybe I am the stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-they-were-right-maybe-i-did-get-my-hopes-up-to-high-maybe-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well maybe it is stupid, but it's also dumb!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-star/well-maybe-it-is-stupid-but-it-s-also-dumb/) [Patrick Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-star/) > [Are you suggesting I’m not normal? (Nykyrian) Oh yeah, baby, you ooze normality. From the top of that assassin’s braid to the tip of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/are-you-suggesting-i-m-not-normal-nykyrian-oh-yeah-baby-you-ooze/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I don’t like the term “Average Joe.” I prefer “Dolly,” because not only is the Everyman a sheep, but he’s also a clone. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-don-t-like-the-term-average-joe-i-prefer-dolly-because-not-only-is/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Audrey Bell > [“I'm sorry," he said. He shook his head. "There are about a dozen girls who I had to say I was sorry to because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-m-sorry-he-said-he-shook-his-head-there-are-about-a-dozen-girls-who/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“To fall in love with someone who couldn't be worse for me." He shook his head. "I mean, Jesus Christ. You've got a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/to-fall-in-love-with-someone-who-couldn-t-be-worse-for-me-he-shook/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“When you lose someone important, not everything makes sense. Being angry was easier than being hurt. Being alone was easier than letting people get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/when-you-lose-someone-important-not-everything-makes-sense-being/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“I loathe that phrase.” “Seriously?” Andrew asked, with a smile. “The idea that people fall in love,” I said. “It sounds so sloppy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-loathe-that-phrase-seriously-andrew-asked-with-a-smile-the-idea/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“Complicated? You go to dinner with Andrew Brenner and you fuck me? No, that's not complicated," he smiled bitterly. "I mean this is fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/complicated-you-go-to-dinner-with-andrew-brenner-and-you-fuck-me-no/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“If this is decaf, I'm going to pour it on your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/if-this-is-decaf-i-m-going-to-pour-it-on-your-head/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“He had these eyes. They were blue and they looked bluer because he had a dark head of hair. They were soulful, in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/he-had-these-eyes-they-were-blue-and-they-looked-bluer-because-he-had/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“Aw, I’m not going to give up that easily,” he smiled. “You’re the one who started it. You shouldn’t have kissed me like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/aw-i-m-not-going-to-give-up-that-easily-he-smiled-you-re-the-one-who/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“He laughed and I did too, it was funny and horribly painful and deeply aching all at once. Like the laughter echoed and because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/he-laughed-and-i-did-too-it-was-funny-and-horribly-painful-and-deeply/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“I like you,” he said. He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “You’re the best person I’ve met all year.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-like-you-he-said-he-smiled-his-eyes-twinkling-you-re-the-best/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“Good.” He grinned. “I was kind of worried you’d say no. It’s like so against the rules it’s not even funny.” I smiled. “Well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/good-he-grinned-i-was-kind-of-worried-you-d-say-no-it-s-like-so/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“You look like a troll doll, a fucking demented troll doll.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/you-look-like-a-troll-doll-a-fucking-demented-troll-doll/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“I’m a little bit of a disaster, Hadley.” “Then, you’re my favorite disaster, Jack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-m-a-little-bit-of-a-disaster-hadley-then-you-re-my-favorite/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“I told her I'd made a huge mistake and that sparkles was definitely a letter. The kindergarten teacher was like, please don’t ever talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-told-her-i-d-made-a-huge-mistake-and-that-sparkles-was-definitely-a/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“Just tell me, baby.” “Do not—” “I’m allowed to call you ‘baby’ when I’m pretending to be a criminal. That’s how criminals talk,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/just-tell-me-baby-do-not-i-m-allowed-to-call-you-baby-when-i-m/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) [Explore all 24 Audrey Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) ## More Average joe quotes > [“I don’t like the term “Average Joe.” I prefer “Dolly,” because not only is the Everyman a sheep, but he’s also a clone. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-don-t-like-the-term-average-joe-i-prefer-dolly-because-not-only-is/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Are you suggesting I’m not normal? (Nykyrian) Oh yeah, baby, you ooze normality. From the top of that assassin’s braid to the tip of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/are-you-suggesting-i-m-not-normal-nykyrian-oh-yeah-baby-you-ooze/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I've never wanted to be your average Joe. I've always wanted to stand out from the crowd - to be someone looked at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/i-ve-never-wanted-to-be-your-average-joe-i-ve-always-wanted-to-stand/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [I think what makes me different from the average Joe is that I feel free to be myself and express myself in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-think-what-makes-me-different-from-the-average-joe-is-that-i-feel/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [What makes an Alexander Payne movie an 'Alexander Payne movie' is that he knows how to make the 'mundane' or the 'average Joe' special.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/what-makes-an-alexander-payne-movie-an-alexander-payne-movie-is-that/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [The professionals are going to be joined by the average Joe. Everybody's a publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-brown/the-professionals-are-going-to-be-joined-by-the-average-joe-everybody/) [Eric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-brown/) > [“It’s not all “molly” and “asshat.” The etymologies of some words are, for the lexicographer and average joe alike, boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-s-not-all-molly-and-asshat-the-etymologies-of-some-words-are-for/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [It's very difficult to get your ideas to Hollywood if you're the average Joe or Jane. An agent wouldn't bother with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nash/it-s-very-difficult-to-get-your-ideas-to-hollywood-if-you-re-the/) [Bruce Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nash/) > [Just because men of renown, such as Edgar Cayce, Albert Einstein, Gandhi, or even Nikola Tesla, say something; doesn't that it is true...or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yourmaj3sty/just-because-men-of-renown-such-as-edgar-cayce-albert-einstein-gandhi/) [YourMaj3sty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yourmaj3sty/) > [With the single crossing over to pop radio, it's bringing out new people to the shows. We've got all our metal kids and punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacoby-shaddix/with-the-single-crossing-over-to-pop-radio-it-s-bringing-out-new/) [Jacoby Shaddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacoby-shaddix/) > [All I can say is we love what we do, and the audience is still there for us. I think what's given us such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-medlocke/all-i-can-say-is-we-love-what-we-do-and-the-audience-is-still-there/) [Rickey Medlocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-medlocke/) > [“He tilted his head back like she’d slapped him. “Are you suggesting I’m not normal?” She held her hands up in mock surrender. “Oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/he-tilted-his-head-back-like-she-d-slapped-him-are-you-suggesting-i-m/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I don't have any extraordinary gifts. I'm just an average Joe who grew up very poor in rural Alabama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-don-t-have-any-extraordinary-gifts-i-m-just-an-average-joe-who-grew/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [People ask me how come you've been around so long. Well, it's through playing the part of Mr Average Joe American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cooper/people-ask-me-how-come-you-ve-been-around-so-long-well-it-s-through/) [Gary Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cooper/) > [With Don Rickles and me, we're just telling the truth. We're not terrific people, and we're not gonna win the beauty contest. We're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/with-don-rickles-and-me-we-re-just-telling-the-truth-we-re-not/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) [Browse all 27 Average joe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-joe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Maybe they do. Maybe every stupid person you know cancels out every smart person you know and every good person you know cancels out every evil person you know.” “That’s right. 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