---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No plan can prevent a stupid person from…"
description: "\"No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg"
---

#  No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong…

![“No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from forming.” quote by Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg)

> “No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from forming.”

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even the best plans cannot stop foolish actions, but good planning can prevent harmful ideas from taking root.

**In simple terms:** Plans can't stop stupidity, but can block bad ideas.

Key Takeaway

Use planning to limit harmful thoughts.

Themes

planning human error prevention

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

philosophical strategic

When to use this quote

- policy design
- organizational strategy
- personal decision‑making

Key Concepts

cognitive bias risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- Can a plan ever fully prevent mistakes?
- How do you balance flexibility with control?

A Different Perspective

Plans cannot control unpredictable human behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Good Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-plan/) [Plan Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-concentration-5152592/) [Plan Prevent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-prevent-5152591/) [Prevent Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevent-stupid-5152590/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-person/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wrong place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-place/) [Wrong time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-time/)

## Related quotes

> [Loving the wrong person doesn't mean ypu're stupid. It was stupid of that person not to appreciate your LOVE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pretty-nimy/loving-the-wrong-person-doesn-t-mean-ypu-re-stupid-it-was-stupid-of/)

[Pretty\_Nimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pretty-nimy/)

> [If being real is stupidity... I would be the most stupid person in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jam-jam-candido/if-being-real-is-stupidity-i-would-be-the-most-stupid-person-in-this/)

[Jam-jam Candido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jam-jam-candido/)

> [“The fact that the stupid person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent. In conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-fact-that-the-stupid-person-is-often-stubborn-must-not-blind-us/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Omfgeee the next stupid person that makes fun of people or says it's a sin to be gay, bi or a lez.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/omfgeee-the-next-stupid-person-that-makes-fun-of-people-or-says-it-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not a stupid person and I know what I'm capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/i-m-not-a-stupid-person-and-i-know-what-i-m-capable-of/)

[Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/)

> [When I hear heartbreak songs, I always feel like, 'O.K. that's exactly how I feel... I'm not the only person who fell in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-petras/when-i-hear-heartbreak-songs-i-always-feel-like-o-k-that-s-exactly/)

[Kim Petras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-petras/)

> [Johannes had once said that violence and cruelty were just a stupid person's way of making himself felt, because it was easer to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-holm/johannes-had-once-said-that-violence-and-cruelty-were-just-a-stupid/)

[Anne Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-holm/)

> [“I rather be a stupid person wanting clarification and answers, in order to be wiser, than be a stupid person that blindly believes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-rather-be-a-stupid-person-wanting-clarification-and-answers-in/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [The rule is: don’t use commas like a stupid person. I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/the-rule-is-don-t-use-commas-like-a-stupid-person-i-mean-it/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [ I have seen \[Betsy DeVos\] present a few times. I don't really know her. But I have seen her present on education policy, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-have-seen-betsy-devos-present-a-few-times-i-don-t-really-know-her/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Have you ever been in love? horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable, it opens your chest, it opens your heart and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-the-best/have-you-ever-been-in-love-horrible-isn-t-it-it-makes-you-so/)

[SAM (THE BEST](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-the-best/)

> [A Man who learn from other's mistake, who learn from the world, is a smart and intelligent person. A Man who learn from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chakshu-aggarwal/a-man-who-learn-from-other-s-mistake-who-learn-from-the-world-is-a/)

[Chakshu Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chakshu-aggarwal/)

> [“not the stupid person who commits mistakes. but the stupid which is always located in the same mistake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-naili/not-the-stupid-person-who-commits-mistakes-but-the-stupid-which-is/)

[khaled naili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-naili/)

> [“Most people are pretty okay. Sometimes they get involved in stupid stuff, but it’s the stuff that’s stupid, not the person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-puma/most-people-are-pretty-okay-sometimes-they-get-involved-in-stupid/)

[Jeremy Puma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-puma/)

> [Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-you-ever-been-in-love-horrible-isn-t-it-it-makes-you-so-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Charles E. Wilson

> [Many people do not realize that where unions have bargaining rights employers cannot raise wages or improve benefit plans any more than they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/many-people-do-not-realize-that-where-unions-have-bargaining-rights/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Costs of manufactured articles importantly depend on the cost of raw materials as well as labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/costs-of-manufactured-articles-importantly-depend-on-the-cost-of-raw/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our thinking behind these agreements is that we want all jobs in General Motors to be good jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-thinking-behind-these-agreements-is-that-we-want-all-jobs-in/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [That the way to achieve higher standards of living for all is through science and technology, taking advantage of better tools, methods and organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/that-the-way-to-achieve-higher-standards-of-living-for-all-is-through/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our expanding Canadian operations are concrete evidence of General Motors confidence in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-expanding-canadian-operations-are-concrete-evidence-of-general/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our recent 5-year labour agreements, in Canada as well as the United States, are based upon experience, logic and principle rather than on pressure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-recent-5-year-labour-agreements-in-canada-as-well-as-the-united/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The prices of raw materials do not fluctuate directly with the labour cost of producing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-prices-of-raw-materials-do-not-fluctuate-directly-with-the-labour/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [That co-operation and peace rather than industrial strife and strikes will best promote the prosperity of the employees the company and all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/that-co-operation-and-peace-rather-than-industrial-strife-and-strikes/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [No one should be so naive as to think that wages among organized groups will not be increased, under pressure if necessary, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-one-should-be-so-naive-as-to-think-that-wages-among-organized/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Canada has great natural resources, and its people have the spirit and ability to develop them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/canada-has-great-natural-resources-and-its-people-have-the-spirit-and/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The only sound approach to collective bargaining is to work out an agreement that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of the parties, establishes principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-only-sound-approach-to-collective-bargaining-is-to-work-out-an/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [If workmen are denied any increase in real wages and they can look forward only to a better standard of living through reduction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/if-workmen-are-denied-any-increase-in-real-wages-and-they-can-look/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The thing that contributes to anyone's reaching the goal he wants is simple wanting that goal badly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-thing-that-contributes-to-anyone-s-reaching-the-goal-he-wants-is/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [No one should suffer from the great delusion that any form of communism or socialism which promotes the dictatorship of the few instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-one-should-suffer-from-the-great-delusion-that-any-form-of/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [In my fifty years of experience and memory, I have seen the most amazing increase in the standard of living of a people ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/in-my-fifty-years-of-experience-and-memory-i-have-seen-the-most/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

[Explore all 25 Charles E. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

## More Concentration quotes

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/)

[Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/)

> [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/)

[Ferguson Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferguson-jenkins/)

> [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/)

[Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/)

> [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/)

[Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/)

> [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation—choosing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gawler/mindfulness-develops-attention-concentration-and-the-ability-to/)

[Ian Gawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gawler/)

> [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/)

[Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/)

> [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/)

[Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/)

> [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles… So my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/our-mind-is-a-flowing-something-it-oscillates-concentration-is-merely/)

[Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/)

[Browse all 1,154 Concentration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a good plan should keep a concentration from forming.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles E. Wilson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from-doing-the-wrong-thing-in-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Concentration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from-doing-the-wrong-thing-in-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/charles-e-wilson-23915_concentration_no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from_3064143.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No plan can prevent a stupid person from doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - but a…” — Charles E. Wilson",
                "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": "Charles E. Wilson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No plan can prevent a stupid...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from-doing-the-wrong-thing-in-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-plan-can-prevent-a-stupid-person-from-doing-the-wrong-thing-in-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
