---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all know how stupid the average person…"
description: "\"We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize that, by definition, fifty percent of the population is dumber than that.\" — Ivan Stang"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png"
---

#  We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize…

![“We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize that, by definition, fifty percent of the population is dumber than that.” quote by Ivan Stang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png)

> “We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize that, by definition, fifty percent of the population is dumber than that.”

Ivan Stang

## About This Quote

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

Average intelligence is modest, yet half the population is below that standard

**In simple terms:** Most people are average; recognizing this normalizes perceived stupidity

Key Takeaway

Accept average abilities while striving for growth

Themes

intelligence population statistics humor

Mood

humorous critical

Type

average:1 average person:1 definitions:1 dumber:1 fifty:1 know how:0 knows:0 percent:1 persons:0 population:1 realizing:0 stupid:1 stupidity:1 percent population:0 know stupid:0 stupid average:0 population dumber:0

When to use this quote

- education
- workplace
- personal development

Key Concepts

normal distribution self‑assessment social comparison

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define “average”?
- What can you learn from others?

A Different Perspective

Labeling people as “stupid” can be harmful

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Average person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-person/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/)

## Related quotes

> [Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/think-of-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-and-realize-half-of-them/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/just-think-of-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-and-then-realize-half/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I may not know everything,but I'm not stupid enough to believe that you do know everything about me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-amshey/i-may-not-know-everything-but-i-m-not-stupid-enough-to-believe-that/)

[Terri Amshey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-amshey/)

> [“I know nothing more stupid and indeed vulgar than wanting to be right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/i-know-nothing-more-stupid-and-indeed-vulgar-than-wanting-to-be-right/)

[Paul Valéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/)

> [I know I'm stupid. Stupid inlove with you. No matter how many girls crowded you. But the point is I still see you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/originals/i-know-i-m-stupid-stupid-inlove-with-you-no-matter-how-many-girls/)

[Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/originals/)

> [“There were a million things, everything, I didn't know I was stupid- the official descriptive phrase for happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/there-were-a-million-things-everything-i-didn-t-know-i-was-stupid-the/)

[Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/)

> [“Best Freinds They know how stupid you look and still chose to be seen in public with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-mcminn/best-freinds-they-know-how-stupid-you-look-and-still-chose-to-be-seen/)

Suzanne McMinn

> [Best Friends: They know how stupid you are and still choose to be seen with you in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zimri-serrano/best-friends-they-know-how-stupid-you-are-and-still-choose-to-be-seen/)

Zimri Serrano

> [I know how stupid people can be. I've played in front of 5,000 people that bought a ticket to my concert, and some guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-know-how-stupid-people-can-be-i-ve-played-in-front-of-5-000-people/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [You can't hold the record forever, and I know that. I'm not stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/you-can-t-hold-the-record-forever-and-i-know-that-i-m-not-stupid/)

[Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/)

> [Somebody tell me, who am I/ What: Do not know / even I do not know: Who am I, then what you will know stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pagla-kahin-ka/somebody-tell-me-who-am-i-what-do-not-know-even-i-do-not-know-who-am/)

Pagla\_Kahin\_Ka

> [Telling me that I dont know what love is just because I'm too young is like telling you that: you dont know who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-young/telling-me-that-i-dont-know-what-love-is-just-because-i-m-too-young/)

J-Young

> [I'm smart enough to know I am stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fitzjohn/i-m-smart-enough-to-know-i-am-stupid/)

[Michael FitzJohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fitzjohn/)

> [“For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-4-22/for-my-people-are-foolish-they-know-me-not-they-are-stupid-children/)

Jeremiah 4 22

> [Yeah, I know it's stupid...I just gotta see it for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn/yeah-i-know-it-s-stupid-i-just-gotta-see-it-for-myself/)

[Robyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn/)

## More by Ivan Stang

> [If you sincerely desire a truly well-rounded education, you must study the extremists, the obscure and "nutty." You need the balance! Your poor brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-stang/if-you-sincerely-desire-a-truly-well-rounded-education-you-must-study/)

Ivan Stang

Explore all 2 Ivan Stang quotes

## More Average quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/)

Buck Martinez

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/)

[Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/)

> [I really focus more to hit for average, just try to put the ball in play as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-really-focus-more-to-hit-for-average-just-try-to-put-the-ball-in/)

[Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/)

> [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I feel like what motivates me is what would motivate the regular average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-feel-like-what-motivates-me-is-what-would-motivate-the-regular/)

[Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/)

> [We're trying to do something so that when the average person uses Pinterest, it has to make the service better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-re-trying-to-do-something-so-that-when-the-average-person-uses/)

[Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/)

> [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

Browse all 2,816 Average quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize that, by definition, fifty percent of the population is dumber than that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ivan Stang"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-stang/we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-now-realize-that-by/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Average"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-stang/we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-now-realize-that-by/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/ivan-stang-89424_average_we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-perso_2021052.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We all know how stupid the average person is. Now realize that, by definition, fifty percent of the…” — Ivan Stang",
                "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": "Ivan Stang",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-stang/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We all know how stupid the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-stang/we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-now-realize-that-by/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-stang/we-all-know-how-stupid-the-average-person-is-now-realize-that-by/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
