--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sad truth is that... many people are…" description: "\"“The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because they are stupi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg" --- # The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid… ![“The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because they are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. Some people's heads are full of…” quote by José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg) > ““The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because they are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. Some people's heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true.”” [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often accept falsehoods when motivated by desire or fear, regardless of factual knowledge. **In simple terms:** Desire and fear can override facts. Key Takeaway Question your motivations before believing. Themes belief motivation critical thinking Mood skeptical concerned Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - political discourse - advertising - social media - personal relationships - education Key Concepts cognitive bias confirmation bias Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your acceptance of a claim? - How can you test a belief before accepting it? A Different Perspective Belief without scrutiny can lead to manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs False](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-false-1304082/) [Believe Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-lie/) [Believe Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-stupid-1304081/) [Facts Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts-beliefs-1304083/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Sad truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-truth/) [Stupid Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-believe-512541/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Wizard’s First Rule: people are stupid.” Richard and Kahlan frowned even more. “People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizard-s-first-rule-people-are-stupid-richard-and-kahlan-frowned-even-2/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/people-are-stupid-given-proper-motivation-almost-anyone-will-believe/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/people-s-heads-are-full-of-knowledge-facts-and-beliefs-and-most-of-it/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. BecauHse people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/people-are-stupid-given-proper-motivation-almost-anyone-will-believe-2/) [Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/) > [People are stupid. They will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/people-are-stupid-they-will-believe-a-lie-because-they-want-to/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [True bigotry is when you can't see the facts because your own beliefs are blocking the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-d-elliott/true-bigotry-is-when-you-can-t-see-the-facts-because-your-own-beliefs/) [Lawrence D Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-d-elliott/) > [Remember, we see the world not as it is but as we are. Most of us see through the eyes of our fears and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/remember-we-see-the-world-not-as-it-is-but-as-we-are-most-of-us-see/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [I do like to believe there is no stupid and or funny question because in fact if we don't ask than we don't learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/i-do-like-to-believe-there-is-no-stupid-and-or-funny-question-because/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [When I look back I can't believe I was so stupid as to direct Dealer's Choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/when-i-look-back-i-can-t-believe-i-was-so-stupid-as-to-direct-dealer/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [Muhammad was a jackass. People who believe in him are stupid. Let us call a spade as spade. These people must be laughed at.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/muhammad-was-a-jackass-people-who-believe-in-him-are-stupid-let-us/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [All religions, plainly and simply, cannot be true. Some beliefs are false, and we know them to be false. So it does no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/all-religions-plainly-and-simply-cannot-be-true-some-beliefs-are/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“I know the hard ground and the taste of the salt water I’m made of and the way even getting out of bed feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-leblanc/i-know-the-hard-ground-and-the-taste-of-the-salt-water-i-m-made-of/) [Jeanette LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-leblanc/) > [The chief deficiency I see in the skeptical movement is its polarization: Us vs. Them - the sense that we have a monopoly on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-chief-deficiency-i-see-in-the-skeptical-movement-is-its/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ “A defense \[of religion\] is needed because none has been forthcoming. The discussion has been ceded to men who regard religious belief with frivolous… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/a-defense-of-religion-is-needed-because-none-has-been-forthcoming-the/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [Will future ages believe that such stupid bigotry ever existed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/will-future-ages-believe-that-such-stupid-bigotry-ever-existed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by José N. Harris > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“The best teacher is experience. Not by copying the answers off the kid sitting next to you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-best-teacher-is-experience-not-by-copying-the-answers-off-the-kid/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Fighting can be like champagne. It can go to the head of a coward as quickly as of a hero. Anyone has the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/fighting-can-be-like-champagne-it-can-go-to-the-head-of-a-coward-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Amputees suffer itches, cramps and even severe pains in a leg that is no longer there. It can be the same with love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/amputees-suffer-itches-cramps-and-even-severe-pains-in-a-leg-that-is/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Make a wish, Open your eyes, Live your dream...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/make-a-wish-open-your-eyes-live-your-dream/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Every woman is a living poem... Most men are limericks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/every-woman-is-a-living-poem-most-men-are-limericks/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Not all scars are visible. Regardless, they are usually painful when you first get them. But with time they might fade or they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/not-all-scars-are-visible-regardless-they-are-usually-painful-when/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“The fastest runners don't always win the race and the greatest heroes don't always win the battles. But just keep running and fighting if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-fastest-runners-don-t-always-win-the-race-and-the-greatest-heroes/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“With having a strong faith, no one can snuff out our hope. Shoot me in the head with a gun and my blood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/with-having-a-strong-faith-no-one-can-snuff-out-our-hope-shoot-me-in/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“There are moments in life, when just the right words, can be as powerful as acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/there-are-moments-in-life-when-just-the-right-words-can-be-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/and-the-king-will-say-i-tell-you-the-truth-when-you-did-it-to-one-of/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Do not say I didn't loved you Do not say that I didn't give you, My love, body and soul. I gave my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/do-not-say-i-didn-t-loved-you-do-not-say-that-i-didn-t-give-you-my/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Just when you think you know everything you can about a person... surprise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/just-when-you-think-you-know-everything-you-can-about-a-person/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“To not share a struggle or challenge you overcame is to betray it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/to-not-share-a-struggle-or-challenge-you-overcame-is-to-betray-it/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) [Explore all 321 José N. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More Motivation quotes > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is like riding on a bus. God is the driver and I am the passenger. Have faith God knows which route to take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/life-is-like-riding-on-a-bus-god-is-the-driver-and-i-am-the-passenger/) [Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) [Browse all 14,479 Motivation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because they are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. Some people's heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "José N. Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in-fact-stupid-given-proper/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Motivation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in-fact-stupid-given-proper/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/jos-n-harris-929_motivation_the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in_2526633.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sad truth is that... many people are, in fact- stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will…” — José N. Harris", "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": "José N. Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The sad truth is that... many...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in-fact-stupid-given-proper/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-sad-truth-is-that-many-people-are-in-fact-stupid-given-proper/#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 } } ] } ```