---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One man may be more cunning than another…"
description: "\"One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_cleverness_one-man-may-be-more-cunning-than-another_2348355.png"
---

#  One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can…

![“One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_cleverness_one-man-may-be-more-cunning-than-another_2348355.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_cleverness_one-man-may-be-more-cunning-than-another_2348355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_cleverness_one-man-may-be-more-cunning-than-another_2348355.png)

> “One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

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

No one can outwit the whole world; cunning is limited by collective intelligence.

**In simple terms:** No one can be smarter than everyone together.

Key Takeaway

Leverage collective insight over solitary scheming.

Themes

cunning human nature collective wisdom strategy humility

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- political campaigns
- team projects

Key Concepts

social psychology group dynamics ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you underestimated collective power?
- How can you foster collaborative thinking?

A Different Perspective

Relying on personal cunning can backfire against united groups.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

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> [Money never can be well managed if sought solely through the greed of money for its own sake. In all meanness there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/money-never-can-be-well-managed-if-sought-solely-through-the-greed-of/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-desire-of-appearing-clever-often-prevents-our-becoming-so/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-height-of-cleverness-is-to-be-able-to-conceal-it/)

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> [It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-a-great-act-of-cleverness-to-be-able-to-conceal-one-s-being/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-can-be-more-clever-than-one-but-not-more-clever-than-all/)

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## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

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> [Where there is simplicity, there are a hundred Angels, but where there is cleverness - there are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-of-optina/where-there-is-simplicity-there-are-a-hundred-angels-but-where-there/)

Ambrose of Optina

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Browse all 406 Cleverness quotes

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