--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Advisers who think that they are very…" description: "\"Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/geoff-mulgan-7252_adviser_advisers-who-think-that-they-are-very-cl_917239.jpg" --- # Advisers who think that they are very clever while all… ![“Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick listened to the clever, are liable to be disappointed.” quote by Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/geoff-mulgan-7252_adviser_advisers-who-think-that-they-are-very-cl_917239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/geoff-mulgan-7252_adviser_advisers-who-think-that-they-are-very-cl_917239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/geoff-mulgan-7252_adviser_advisers-who-think-that-they-are-very-cl_917239.jpg) > “Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick listened to the clever, are liable to be disappointed.” [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overconfident advisers risk disappointment when their solutions ignore practical realities and diverse perspectives. **In simple terms:** Cleverness without listening leads to failure. Key Takeaway Listen to varied viewpoints. Themes leadership policy humility communication Mood critical reflective Type strategic analytical When to use this quote - government planning - consulting - team projects Key Concepts expertise groupthink decision making Questions to Reflect On - How to balance expertise with humility? - What mechanisms ensure diverse input? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind to flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adviser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adviser/) [Advisers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advisers/) [Advisers Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advisers-think-1391356/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Clever Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever-liable-1391357/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable/) [Listened Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listened-clever-1391358/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thick/) [Think Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-clever-445248/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Very clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-clever/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [You think you’re a very clever fellow, don’t you?” Saldur challenged. “No, Your Grace,” Merrick replied. “Clever is the man who makes a fortune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/you-think-you-re-a-very-clever-fellow-don-t-you-saldur-challenged-no/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [It's funny how after an argument is over you begin to think about more clever things you should have said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-after-an-argument-is-over-you-begin-to-think-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think clever people think that poor people are stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-think-clever-people-think-that-poor-people-are-stupid/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'm always trying to think of something clever and fun to do with the music. There's so many cool things musicians and artists can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coppola-schwartzman/i-m-always-trying-to-think-of-something-clever-and-fun-to-do-with-the/) [Robert Coppola Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coppola-schwartzman/) > [“We think we’re so clever. 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Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [I think it's such a clever idea, that you fall in love when you're 16, and then you have this fantasy about that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-reid/i-think-it-s-such-a-clever-idea-that-you-fall-in-love-when-you-re-16/) [Anne Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-reid/) > [I hate how after an arguement I think of more clever shit I should have said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/i-hate-how-after-an-arguement-i-think-of-more-clever-shit-i-should/) [Fading\_scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fading-scars/) > [I t's funny…. how after an argument is over, you start to think about more clever words you could have said.!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-t-s-funny-how-after-an-argument-is-over-you-start-to-think-about/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Be Clever, Think Clever and Do Clever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-james/be-clever-think-clever-and-do-clever/) [Robin James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-james/) > [“Maybe the clever people are not the ones who think they’re clever. Maybe the clever people are the ones who accept that they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/maybe-the-clever-people-are-not-the-ones-who-think-they-re-clever/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [There are many foolish people in the world and when a man in a rather high position puts on no frills, slaps them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-are-many-foolish-people-in-the-world-and-when-a-man-in-a-rather/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“Whenever you think you are very clever, that’s when you are getting ready to be awesomely stupid.” “Based”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-cameron/whenever-you-think-you-are-very-clever-that-s-when-you-are-getting/) [Miles Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-cameron/) > [“Think of something clever, witty or profound, keep it short and people may quote you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-darnell/think-of-something-clever-witty-or-profound-keep-it-short-and-people/) [Bobby Darnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-darnell/) ## More by Geoff Mulgan > [For most of human history, the main goal of states has been to conquer land and to achieve glory for their rulers, usually at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/for-most-of-human-history-the-main-goal-of-states-has-been-to-conquer/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Over 5,000 years, states have made surprisingly consistent claims about their duties. They have promised to protect people from threats; promote their welfare; deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/over-5-000-years-states-have-made-surprisingly-consistent-claims/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Understanding capitalism is in some ways simple. 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