--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Several people have told me that my…" description: "\"Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.\" — Edsger Dijkstra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png" --- # Several people have told me that my inability to suffer… ![“Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png) > “Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.” [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees being unable to tolerate foolishness as a personal flaw, highlighting a low tolerance for irrational behavior. **In simple terms:** Disliking foolishness is a weakness. Key Takeaway Accept that some absurdity is inevitable. Themes self-awareness humility patience Mood reflective concerned Type self-improvement philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice patience with foolishness? - What strategies help you stay calm when others act irrationally? A Different Perspective People may need to balance criticism with empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaknesses/) ## Related quotes > [I suffer fools gladly because I am one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-secombe/i-suffer-fools-gladly-because-i-am-one-of-them/) [Harry Secombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-secombe/) > [Suffer fools gladly; they may be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/suffer-fools-gladly-they-may-be-right/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [“I neither suffer myself, nor other fools, gladly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-guinness/i-neither-suffer-myself-nor-other-fools-gladly/) [Alec Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-guinness/) > [The older I get, the less I suffer fools gladly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/the-older-i-get-the-less-i-suffer-fools-gladly/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I suffered fools so gladly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-suffered-fools-so-gladly/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [So many, though reluctant to admit it. Shun clever men, and rather suffer fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krylov/so-many-though-reluctant-to-admit-it-shun-clever-men-and-rather/) Ivan Krylov > [ \[Maggie Smith\] brings new meaning to the phrase "doesn't suffer fools." She has just the most amazing, dry timing of anyone ever, I think.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/maggie-smith-brings-new-meaning-to-the-phrase-doesn-t-suffer-fools/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/new-year-s-resolution-to-tolerate-fools-more-gladly-provided-this/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [New Years Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/new-years-resolution-to-tolerate-fools-more-gladly-provided-this-does/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [Upon reflection, I decided I had three main weaknesses: I was confused (evidenced by a lack of facts, an inability to coordinate my thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/upon-reflection-i-decided-i-had-three-main-weaknesses-i-was-confused/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [This may come as a shock to some of you, but I have a slightly volatile personality. I don’t suffer fools well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/this-may-come-as-a-shock-to-some-of-you-but-i-have-a-slightly/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [Don't suffer fools or you'll become one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/don-t-suffer-fools-or-you-ll-become-one/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [ Not only did he \[Dean Acheson\] not suffer fools gladly, he did not suffer them at all. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/not-only-did-he-dean-acheson-not-suffer-fools-gladly-he-did-not/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [As you get older, you suffer fools less easily. That's why there's all those cranky character actors. I'm an exception. I'm a sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/as-you-get-older-you-suffer-fools-less-easily-that-s-why-there-s-all/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/i-suffer-migraines-i-do-not-suffer-fools/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## More by Edsger Dijkstra > [Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/production-speed-is-severely-slowed-down-if-one-works-with-half-time/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In the good old days physicists repeated each other's experiments, just to be sure. Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/don-t-compete-with-me-firstly-i-have-more-experience-and-secondly-i/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-anthropomorphic-terminology-forces-you-linguistically-to/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-to-unsuspecting-youngsters-the-effective-use-of-formal/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/brainpower-is-by-far-our-scarcest-resource/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Programming in Basic causes brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-in-basic-causes-brain-damage/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-now-have-had-my-foggy-crystal-ball-for-quite-a-long-time-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-this-respect-a-program-is-like-a-poem-you-cannot-write-a-poem/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [It used to be the program's purpose to instruct our computers; it became the computer's purpose to execute our programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/it-used-to-be-the-program-s-purpose-to-instruct-our-computers-it/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Explore all 103 Edsger Dijkstra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## More Fool quotes > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [A fool and his money get a lot of publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-bernstein/a-fool-and-his-money-get-a-lot-of-publicity/) [Al Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-bernstein/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/) [WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'd be a fool to be in this for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-d-be-a-fool-to-be-in-this-for-the-money/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) [Browse all 5,535 Fool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fool" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/edsger-dijkstra-5102_fool_several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inab_352943.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.” — Edsger Dijkstra", "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": "Edsger Dijkstra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Several people have told me that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/#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 } } ] } ```