--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cops need dumb people. What if everybody…" description: "\"Cops need dumb people. What if everybody was smart? Where would police be right now?\" — Deon Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/deon-cole-6960_cops_cops-need-dumb-people-what-if-everybody_2810714.jpg" --- # Cops need dumb people. What if everybody was smart? Where… ![“Cops need dumb people. What if everybody was smart? Where would police be right now?” quote by Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/deon-cole-6960_cops_cops-need-dumb-people-what-if-everybody_2810714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/deon-cole-6960_cops_cops-need-dumb-people-what-if-everybody_2810714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/deon-cole-6960_cops_cops-need-dumb-people-what-if-everybody_2810714.jpg) > “Cops need dumb people. What if everybody was smart? Where would police be right now?” [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Police rely on less intelligent individuals; universal intelligence would render policing unnecessary. **In simple terms:** If everyone were smart, police might be obsolete. Key Takeaway Question the role of authority in a fully informed society. Themes authority intelligence societal structure Mood satirical thought‑provoking Type social commentary humor When to use this quote - law enforcement - education - public policy - community safety Key Concepts Philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - What would replace policing in a smart society? - Can intelligence prevent all wrongdoing? A Different Perspective Assumes intelligence alone solves crime. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops/) [Cops Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops-need-1298080/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-people/) [Everybody Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-smart-3003095/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-police-3517304/) ## Related quotes > [Where are the cops when you need them? (Nick) Probably eating beignets. As the old saying goes, when seconds count, the police are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/where-are-the-cops-when-you-need-them-nick-probably-eating-beignets/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I want everybody to be smart. As smart as they can be. A world of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garson-kanin/i-want-everybody-to-be-smart-as-smart-as-they-can-be-a-world-of/) [Garson Kanin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garson-kanin/) > [Everybody can be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/everybody-can-be-smart/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [When you're a young coach you just want to work hard and prove to everybody that you're smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/when-you-re-a-young-coach-you-just-want-to-work-hard-and-prove-to/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [“Cops need criminals, doctors need disease, and saints need lepers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-donovan/cops-need-criminals-doctors-need-disease-and-saints-need-lepers/) [Donald O'Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-donovan/) > [Why aren't there enough black cops out there? We need black cops to come in and educate some of the white cops who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ealy/why-aren-t-there-enough-black-cops-out-there-we-need-black-cops-to/) [Michael Ealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ealy/) > [Sinead broke in. "The cops need to know what to do with Evan, Amy. What should I tell them?" "Shoot to kill?" Ian suggested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/sinead-broke-in-the-cops-need-to-know-what-to-do-with-evan-amy-what/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [Your work gets destroyed by dumb people and it gets enhanced by smart people and it really doesn't have anything to do with marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/your-work-gets-destroyed-by-dumb-people-and-it-gets-enhanced-by-smart/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I started realizing that I wasn't so dumb; rather, most people simply didn't know the answers to the questions that I was interested in-or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-kamen/i-started-realizing-that-i-wasn-t-so-dumb-rather-most-people-simply/) [Dean Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-kamen/) > [The shocking possibility that dumb people don't exist in sufficient numbers to warrant the millions of careers devoted to tending them will seem incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/the-shocking-possibility-that-dumb-people-don-t-exist-in-sufficient/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [I think the smart people will get even smarter, and the dumb people will get even dumber. But I think they all will enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-think-the-smart-people-will-get-even-smarter-and-the-dumb-people/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [Guns are going to be here until the end of time; the underworld is going to be here until the end of time. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/guns-are-going-to-be-here-until-the-end-of-time-the-underworld-is/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [It's amazing how dumb people can impress you with how much stupider they can be when they really assert themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/it-s-amazing-how-dumb-people-can-impress-you-with-how-much-stupider/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [If you talk with a Southern accent, it's perceived as though you are slow. That's not the case. I've met just as many dumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-peavy/if-you-talk-with-a-southern-accent-it-s-perceived-as-though-you-are/) [Jake Peavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-peavy/) > [I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-a-meathead-i-can-t-help-it-man-you-ve-got-smart-people-and-you-ve/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) ## More by Deon Cole > [My fashion was not the best in the '80s. I looked crazy as hell. I used to wear my pants tucked into my socks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/my-fashion-was-not-the-best-in-the-80s-i-looked-crazy-as-hell-i-used/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [Yeah, absolutely - comedy saved my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/yeah-absolutely-comedy-saved-my-life/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [I learned from mistakes. If I ride my bike and I don't hold the handlebars and I fall, I know to hold them next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/i-learned-from-mistakes-if-i-ride-my-bike-and-i-don-t-hold-the/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [A friend of mine was watching TV one day and he just was like, 'I bet you want to do comedy,' and he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/a-friend-of-mine-was-watching-tv-one-day-and-he-just-was-like-i-bet/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [When I did 'The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien,' Conan came to my dressing room after and was like, 'Man, that was great.' Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/when-i-did-the-tonight-show-with-conan-o-brien-conan-came-to-my/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [In my early 20s, I started doing comedy. I started doing auditions in Chicago. It led me to writing my own sketches for Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/in-my-early-20s-i-started-doing-comedy-i-started-doing-auditions-in/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [That's the whole point of anyone's standup career. It's to get people to listen to their point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/that-s-the-whole-point-of-anyone-s-standup-career-it-s-to-get-people/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [If I decide to do a college, which is very, very, very rare, I just stay as P.C. as possible. My point of view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/if-i-decide-to-do-a-college-which-is-very-very-very-rare-i-just-stay/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [I love being a comic but I love acting as well. They're both very necessary avenues for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/i-love-being-a-comic-but-i-love-acting-as-well-they-re-both-very/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [I always thought that asking questions at the end was a cool way for doing a stand-up show. 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Like not looking seasoned, or not looking prepared, the way that an actual comic should look, becomes funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/funny-comes-in-different-levels-like-not-looking-seasoned-or-not/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [There's nothing that I would never not talk about, but I would do it in a classy way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/there-s-nothing-that-i-would-never-not-talk-about-but-i-would-do-it/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) [Explore all 96 Deon Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) ## More Cops quotes > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [Everyone wants to be part of the 99%, even the cops are like, "No, no, man. I'm part of the 99% too." No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-drooker/everyone-wants-to-be-part-of-the-99-even-the-cops-are-like-no-no-man/) [Eric Drooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-drooker/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [If we were a dog and God owned us, the cops would come and take us away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/if-we-were-a-dog-and-god-owned-us-the-cops-would-come-and-take-us-away/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I just put myself in a hotel and was smoking coke for a while. Then I met up with the wrong people. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/i-just-put-myself-in-a-hotel-and-was-smoking-coke-for-a-while-then-i/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [I can't understand why culture cops try and impose their brand of morality on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/i-can-t-understand-why-culture-cops-try-and-impose-their-brand-of/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I remember my first run-in with cops. It took me really getting to hang, well after that, with cops who were cool, and realizing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-remember-my-first-run-in-with-cops-it-took-me-really-getting-to/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [“I was standing by the car when two police officers showed up in the alley, very interested in me and the BMW in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-adam-nyapi/i-was-standing-by-the-car-when-two-police-officers-showed-up-in-the/) [Tomas Adam Nyapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-adam-nyapi/) > [I've definitely run from the cops in the New York City subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-ve-definitely-run-from-the-cops-in-the-new-york-city-subways/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [“Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, watcha gonna do when they cut your wiener,” Gavin sang as he pointed his gun at random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-watcha-gonna-do-when-they-cut-your/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [The BET definition of a humanitarian is someone who perpetuates a war on cops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/the-bet-definition-of-a-humanitarian-is-someone-who-perpetuates-a-war/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [Where are the cops when you need them? (Nick) Probably eating beignets. As the old saying goes, when seconds count, the police are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/where-are-the-cops-when-you-need-them-nick-probably-eating-beignets/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [There's one overriding issue, namely, that we live in a police state so long as the police get to police themselves. And that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/there-s-one-overriding-issue-namely-that-we-live-in-a-police-state-so/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I'm the black sheep in a family of cops. I understand how difficult the job is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/i-m-the-black-sheep-in-a-family-of-cops-i-understand-how-difficult/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [If you feel your rights are being abused by the authorities, and you don't say something, sometimes the cops don't know how far to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/if-you-feel-your-rights-are-being-abused-by-the-authorities-and-you/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) [Browse all 352 Cops quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cops need dumb people. What if everybody was smart? 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