--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sad thing about true stupidity is…" description: "\"The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do absolutely nothing about it.\" — John Cleese" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg" --- # The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do… ![“The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do absolutely nothing about it.” quote by John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg) > “The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do absolutely nothing about it.” [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True stupidity is frustrating because it is immutable and unchangeable. **In simple terms:** Stupidity is frustrating because it can’t be fixed. Key Takeaway Accept limits and focus on what you can influence. Themes frustration stupidity acceptance Mood irritated thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - workplace errors - education gaps - political discourse Key Concepts cognitive bias human error Questions to Reflect On - How can you respond constructively to irrationality? - When is it better to disengage? A Different Perspective Not all stupidity can be corrected, but attitudes can. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutely nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-nothing/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Sad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-thing/) [Sad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-things/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Stupidity Absolutely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity-absolutely-3503729/) [Thing True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-true-447163/) [True Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-stupidity-3503728/) ## Related quotes > [The sad thing about working on a movie is that you can never see the movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/the-sad-thing-about-working-on-a-movie-is-that-you-can-never-see-the/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [The sad thing about destroying the environment is that we're going to take the rest of life with us. The bluebirds will be gone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-sad-thing-about-destroying-the-environment-is-that-we-re-going-to/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [For every sad thing you think of, you should think of three happy things to chase it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/for-every-sad-thing-you-think-of-you-should-think-of-three-happy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [Death isn't sad. The sad thing is: most people don't live at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/death-isn-t-sad-the-sad-thing-is-most-people-don-t-live-at-all/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [It is of no avail to know what is about to happen; for it is a sad thing to be grieved when grief can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-of-no-avail-to-know-what-is-about-to-happen-for-it-is-a-sad/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“But 'tis a sad thing that all one's happiness is only that the world does not know you are miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-osborne/but-tis-a-sad-thing-that-all-one-s-happiness-is-only-that-the-world/) [Dorothy Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-osborne/) > [It is always a sad thing to understand those who once were obscured by the mystery and intangibility of the thoughtlessly loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-spring/it-is-always-a-sad-thing-to-understand-those-who-once-were-obscured/) [Howard Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-spring/) > [It is a sad thing to look at happiness only through another's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/it-is-a-sad-thing-to-look-at-happiness-only-through-another-s-eyes/) [Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/) > [It was a sad thing. I don't know how he learned that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sands/it-was-a-sad-thing-i-don-t-know-how-he-learned-that/) [Julian Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sands/) > [“I just think if you don't say the honest thing, sometimes the honest thing never becomes true, you know, and I-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-think-if-you-don-t-say-the-honest-thing-sometimes-the-honest/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A thing can be true and still be desperate folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/a-thing-can-be-true-and-still-be-desperate-folly/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“I know now that there is no one thing is true–it is all true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-know-now-that-there-is-no-one-thing-is-true-it-is-all-true/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [There's no one thing that's true. It's all true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-s-no-one-thing-that-s-true-it-s-all-true/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [There's no one thing that is true. They're all true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-s-no-one-thing-that-is-true-they-re-all-true/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“That’s the thing about true love—we never see the beginning or the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/that-s-the-thing-about-true-love-we-never-see-the-beginning-or-the-end/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) ## More by John Cleese > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [years ago we would have been burned for this. Now what I am suggesting is that we've advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/years-ago-we-would-have-been-burned-for-this-now-what-i-am-suggesting/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-sometimes-you-do-something-that-makes-a-small-group-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The very essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen, the feeling that whatever happens, it's okay... you're either free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-very-essence-of-playfulness-is-an-openness-to-anything-that-may/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Creativity is not the possession of some special talent. It’s about the willingness to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/creativity-is-not-the-possession-of-some-special-talent-it-s-about/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [England is a fairly envious little country and it's embodied in the press. They don't like anyone being more distinguished than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/england-is-a-fairly-envious-little-country-and-it-s-embodied-in-the/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-used-to-desire-many-many-things-but-now-i-have-just-one-desire-and/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think the hard thing for young comedians is that the majority of the young people in the audience out there don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-the-hard-thing-for-young-comedians-is-that-the-majority-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I wish you wusses would stop whining about your unhappiness. I'm really fed up with it. Pour yourself a scotch and pull yourself together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-wish-you-wusses-would-stop-whining-about-your-unhappiness-i-m/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [On movies, I like to involve the cast in the writing of the script. I like to have a rehearsal period, after which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/on-movies-i-like-to-involve-the-cast-in-the-writing-of-the-script-i/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I had a very, very difficult relationship with my mother, who was supremely self-centred. She was hilariously self-centred. She did not really take interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-had-a-very-very-difficult-relationship-with-my-mother-who-was/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nothing will stop you being creative more effectively as the fear of making a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nothing-will-stop-you-being-creative-more-effectively-as-the-fear-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-was-very-sad-to-hear-of-the-death-of-ronnie-barker-who-was-such-a/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) [Explore all 209 John Cleese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More Absolutely nothing quotes > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Amateur psychiatric prognosis can be fascinating when there is absolutely nothing else to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-condon/amateur-psychiatric-prognosis-can-be-fascinating-when-there-is/) [Richard Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-condon/) > [I am unusual for a Frenchman - I have absolutely nothing against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-am-unusual-for-a-frenchman-i-have-absolutely-nothing-against-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I know quickly whether a guy is boyfriend material. If I can have a good time doing absolutely nothing with him, then that's boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-hannigan/i-know-quickly-whether-a-guy-is-boyfriend-material-if-i-can-have-a/) [Alyson Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-hannigan/) > [I cannot conceive of music that expresses absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-bartok/i-cannot-conceive-of-music-that-expresses-absolutely-nothing/) [Bela Bartok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-bartok/) > [Well, I've got nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/well-i-ve-got-nothing-to-hide-absolutely-nothing/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/expect-the-most-wonderful-things-to-happen-not-in-the-future-but/) [Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/) > [There is no reason not to love. There is no reason not to be joyous. There is no reason not to celebrate because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-reason-not-to-love-there-is-no-reason-not-to-be-joyous/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Here is something no real celebrity will ever tell you: film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/here-is-something-no-real-celebrity-will-ever-tell-you-film-acting-is/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-william-cooper/listen-to-everyone-read-everything-believe-absolutely-nothing-unless/) [Milton William Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-william-cooper/) > [What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialists! One understands absolutely nothing and it's charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/what-a-delightful-thing-is-the-conversation-of-specialists-one/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [I go to practice every day. I really don't have a training camp. In the boxing world, and that's where that came from, almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-go-to-practice-every-day-i-really-don-t-have-a-training-camp-in-the/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [There is absolutely nothing that you desire that you cannot achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-is-absolutely-nothing-that-you-desire-that-you-cannot-achieve/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Speak kind words to mankind and the unkind will attack you. Speak common sense using all your senses, and you will attacked by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/speak-kind-words-to-mankind-and-the-unkind-will-attack-you-speak/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) [Browse all 268 Absolutely nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do absolutely nothing about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cleese" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-that-you-can-do-absolutely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolutely nothing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-that-you-can-do-absolutely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/john-cleese-1768_absolutely-nothing_the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-th_1186800.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sad thing about true stupidity is that you can do absolutely nothing about it.” — John Cleese", "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": "John Cleese", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The sad thing about true stupidity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-that-you-can-do-absolutely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-sad-thing-about-true-stupidity-is-that-you-can-do-absolutely/#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 } } ] } ```