Absurd Quote by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“In the field of economics we maintain to this day some of the most primitive ideas, some of the most radically false ideas, some of the most absurd ideas a brain can hold. ... but all this give no uneasiness to the average brain. That long-suffering organ has been trained for more thousands of years than history can uncover to hold in unquestioning patience great blocks of irrelevant idiocy and large active lies.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Economics of Idiocy”, 1915
Economic thought often clings to outdated, false, or absurd ideas despite evidence, because societal conditioning sustains them.
In simple terms: Old ideas persist despite being wrong.
Key Takeaway
Question and update entrenched beliefs.
Themes
critical thinking
economics
psychology
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- media analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
institutional inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- What economic assumptions do you accept without scrutiny?
- How can societies better challenge entrenched falsehoods?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated ideas is slow and meets resistance.
![“Because it is a 'use it or lose it' brain, when we develop a map area [in the brain], we long to keep it activated. Just as our muscles become impatient for exercise if we've been sitting all day.” quote by Norman Doidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b26/norman-doidge-17677_areas_because-it-is-a-use-it-or-lose-it-brain_2647451.jpg)
