--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was once asked if I had any ideas for a…" description: "\"“I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really make your hair stand on end: \"C-Stud..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg" --- # I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary… ![“I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really make your hair stand on end: "C-Students from Yale." George W. Bush has gathered around him upper-crust C-students who know no history or geography, plus not-so-closeted white…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg) > ““I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really make your hair stand on end: "C-Students from Yale." George W. Bush has gathered around him upper-crust C-students who know no history or geography, plus not-so-closeted white supremacists, aka Christians, and plus, most frighteningly, psychopathic personalities, or PPs, the medical term for smart, personable people who have no consciences. To say somebody is a PP is to make a perfectly respectable diagnosis, like saying he or she has appendicitis or athlete's foot . . . PPs are presentable, they know full well the suffering their actions may cause others, but they do not care. They cannot care because they are nuts. They have a screw loose! . . . So many of these heartless PPs now hold big jobs in our federal government, as though they were leaders instead of sick. They have taken charge of communications and the schools, so we might as well be Poland under occupation. They might have felt that taking our country into an endless war was simply something decisive to do. What has allowed so many PPs to rise so high in corporations, and now in government, is that they are so decisive. They are going to do something every fuckin' day and they are not afraid. Unlike normal people, they are never filled with doubts, for the simple reasons that they don't give a fuck what happens next. Simply can't. Do this! Do that! Mobilize the reserves! Privatize the public schools! Attack Iraq! Cut health care! Tap everybody's telephone! Cut taxes on the rich! Build a trillion-dollar missile shield! Fuck habeas corpus and the Sierra Club and In These Times , and kiss my ass! There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques the rise of unqualified, ruthless leaders who prioritize decisive action over moral consideration, warning of societal danger. **In simple terms:** Warns against leaders who lack conscience but act decisively. Key Takeaway Beware decisive but immoral leaders. Themes leadership ethics politics Mood skeptical critical warning Type satire political commentary When to use this quote - government appointments - media criticism - public discourse - organizational hiring Key Concepts authoritarianism psychopathy media influence Questions to Reflect On - What qualities should we prioritize in leaders? - How can societies prevent unethical decision‑makers from gaining power? A Different Perspective Not all decisive people are harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Habeas corpus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habeas-corpus/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [Reality show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-show/) [Reality tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-tv/) [Tragic flaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-flaw/) ## Related quotes > [I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for-a-really-scary-reality-tv-2/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Indifference to me, is the epitome of all evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/indifference-to-me-is-the-epitome-of-all-evil/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I left the bedroom to judge distances in the hall. I was less comfortable in the rest of the flat but knew if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-daily/i-left-the-bedroom-to-judge-distances-in-the-hall-i-was-less/) Tracie Daily > [“from the Basement tapes Eric outdid Dylan with the apologies. To the untrained eye, he seemed sincere. The psychologists on the case found Eric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-cullen/from-the-basement-tapes-eric-outdid-dylan-with-the-apologies-to-the/) [Dave Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-cullen/) > [I'm really scary in reality. Most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-m-really-scary-in-reality-most-of-the-time/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I miss the security of knowing you have someone. Waking up & not even knowing where you stand with someone has become a scary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-the-security-of-knowing-you-have-someone-waking-up-not-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I mean, I could go ahead and cut my head off in the guillotine, and it looks great, ... Well, now you turn on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/i-mean-i-could-go-ahead-and-cut-my-head-off-in-the-guillotine-and-it/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. 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He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. 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Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really make your hair stand on end: \"C-Students from Yale.\" George W. Bush has gathered around him upper-crust C-students who know no history or geography, plus not-so-closeted white supremacists, aka Christians, and plus, most frighteningly, psychopathic personalities, or PPs, the medical term for smart, personable people who have no consciences. To say somebody is a PP is to make a perfectly respectable diagnosis, like saying he or she has appendicitis or athlete's foot . . . PPs are presentable, they know full well the suffering their actions may cause others, but they do not care. They cannot care because they are nuts. They have a screw loose! . . . So many of these heartless PPs now hold big jobs in our federal government, as though they were leaders instead of sick. They have taken charge of communications and the schools, so we might as well be Poland under occupation. They might have felt that taking our country into an endless war was simply something decisive to do. What has allowed so many PPs to rise so high in corporations, and now in government, is that they are so decisive. They are going to do something every fuckin' day and they are not afraid. Unlike normal people, they are never filled with doubts, for the simple reasons that they don't give a fuck what happens next. Simply can't. Do this! Do that! Mobilize the reserves! Privatize the public schools! Attack Iraq! Cut health care! Tap everybody's telephone! Cut taxes on the rich! Build a trillion-dollar missile shield! Fuck habeas corpus and the Sierra Club and In These Times , and kiss my ass! There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Vonnegut" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for-a-really-scary-reality-tv/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for-a-really-scary-reality-tv/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/kurt-vonnegut-41_c-students_i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for_261044.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. 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