--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the stupid and the wicked can fear…" description: "\"Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.\" — Mario Bunge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg" --- # Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism. ![“Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.” quote by Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg) > “Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.” [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rational criticism exposes logical flaws; only those lacking reason or moral integrity fear it. **In simple terms:** Fear of rational critique shows lack of reason. Key Takeaway Embrace critique to improve reasoning. Themes critical thinking ethics intellectual humility Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debates - academic peer review - public policy discussions - personal growth Key Concepts logic morality psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does fear of criticism limit learning? - What steps can reduce defensiveness? A Different Perspective Some may view criticism as personal attack, hindering openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ## Related quotes > [I knew that I had turned my world back to cinders, sunk my lovely ship with my own stupid, wicked hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/i-knew-that-i-had-turned-my-world-back-to-cinders-sunk-my-lovely-ship/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [“It was an irrational fear. But when had fear ever been rational?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/it-was-an-irrational-fear-but-when-had-fear-ever-been-rational/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [The wicked fear the good, because the good are a constant reproach to their consciences. The ungodly like religion in the same way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-wicked-fear-the-good-because-the-good-are-a-constant-reproach-to/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Fear beyond rational limits forces people to cling to normality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroya-oku/fear-beyond-rational-limits-forces-people-to-cling-to-normality/) [Hiroya Oku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroya-oku/) > [Serious rational criticism is so rare that it should be encouraged. Being too ready to defend oneself is more dangerous than being too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/serious-rational-criticism-is-so-rare-that-it-should-be-encouraged/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“Criticism of the sanctity of books such as the Qur’an was voiced by the Mu’tazilites, who claimed that the Qur’an should not be seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaakov-malkin/criticism-of-the-sanctity-of-books-such-as-the-qur-an-was-voiced-by/) Yaakov Malkin > [“And it implies that if we respect truth, we must search for it by persistently searching for our errors: by indefatigable rational criticism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/and-it-implies-that-if-we-respect-truth-we-must-search-for-it-by/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [And if a minister shall usurp the supreme and absolute govern ment of America, and set up his instructions as laws in the colonies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/and-if-a-minister-shall-usurp-the-supreme-and-absolute-govern-ment-of/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [As an actor, it was great to work with Harry Lloyd because he's wicked smart, and he is very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/as-an-actor-it-was-great-to-work-with-harry-lloyd-because-he-s-wicked/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-wicked-man-in-prayer-may-lift-up-his-hands-but-he-cannot-lift-up/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Mario Bunge > [Science is morally neutral, but social science shows us that some moral codes are better than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/science-is-morally-neutral-but-social-science-shows-us-that-some/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Whereas science elicits changes in order to know, technology knows in order to elicit changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/whereas-science-elicits-changes-in-order-to-know-technology-knows-in/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [We deem valuable whatever is likely to meet our needs or wishes (individual values) and whatever is likely to help protect or attain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/we-deem-valuable-whatever-is-likely-to-meet-our-needs-or-wishes/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [A distinguished cognitive neuroscientist confessed to me that, because of his religious upbringing, he could not get rid of psychoneural dualism. The idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/a-distinguished-cognitive-neuroscientist-confessed-to-me-that-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [In the scientific community you find competent teachers and original researchers, just as in the musical community you find many good performers but very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-the-scientific-community-you-find-competent-teachers-and-original/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Of course much remains to know, but we know how to learn: through scientific research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/of-course-much-remains-to-know-but-we-know-how-to-learn-through/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Most contemporary philosophers are conservative and eager to keep their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/most-contemporary-philosophers-are-conservative-and-eager-to-keep/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [To me, work is not a burden but my main hobby. This is why I always take work with me when I go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/to-me-work-is-not-a-burden-but-my-main-hobby-this-is-why-i-always/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. In particular, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/a-democratic-state-will-protect-the-freedom-to-hold-any-beliefs-other/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [The motto of science is not just Pauca but rather Plurima ex paucissimis - the most out of the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/the-motto-of-science-is-not-just-pauca-but-rather-plurima-ex/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [It is scandalous the way some scientists accept uncritically some of the most ridiculous speculations, such as the plurality of worlds, the opinion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/it-is-scandalous-the-way-some-scientists-accept-uncritically-some-of/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [All philosophers can do is to abstain from helping the aggressors and to enjoin social scientists to tell the truth instead of joining the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/all-philosophers-can-do-is-to-abstain-from-helping-the-aggressors-and/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [In any event, I don't believe in instant philosophy, because interesting problems take a long time to understand and work out. Just think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-any-event-i-don-t-believe-in-instant-philosophy-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [The fact is that all the important political philosophers and scientists from the great Aristotle on, with the exception of those of the French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/the-fact-is-that-all-the-important-political-philosophers-and/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Philosophy can help laymen spot and reject the numerous pseudoscientific beliefs that survive in the media, such as the fantasies of psychoanalysts, evolutionary psychologists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/philosophy-can-help-laymen-spot-and-reject-the-numerous/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) [Explore all 35 Mario Bunge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mario Bunge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/mario-bunge-17317_criticism_only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear_1613694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.” — Mario Bunge", "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": "Mario Bunge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only the stupid and the wicked...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/#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 } } ] } ```