--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: English stupidity is an organism so…" description: "\"English stupidity is an organism so primitive that it is apparently impossible to kill off. It reminds me of Physarum Polycephalum, the gigantic slime ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/neal-ascherson-24717_animal_english-stupidity-is-an-organism-so-prim_2261276.jpg" --- # English stupidity is an organism so primitive that it is… ![“English stupidity is an organism so primitive that it is apparently impossible to kill off. It reminds me of Physarum Polycephalum, the gigantic slime mould recently bred by scientists at Bonn. Bright yellow and about two millimetres thick, this monocellular creature--neither plant nor…” quote by Neal Ascherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/neal-ascherson-24717_animal_english-stupidity-is-an-organism-so-prim_2261276.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/neal-ascherson-24717_animal_english-stupidity-is-an-organism-so-prim_2261276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/neal-ascherson-24717_animal_english-stupidity-is-an-organism-so-prim_2261276.jpg) > “English stupidity is an organism so primitive that it is apparently impossible to kill off. It reminds me of Physarum Polycephalum, the gigantic slime mould recently bred by scientists at Bonn. Bright yellow and about two millimetres thick, this monocellular creature--neither plant nor animal--grew to a size of 10 square yards before the scientists took fright and froze it. It can smell its favourite food, and move towards it at a speed of up to two centimetres an hour. This favourite food is porridge.” [Neal Ascherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-ascherson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. English foolishness is portrayed as a resilient, primitive organism, likened to a slime mould that survives despite attempts to eliminate it. **In simple terms:** Foolishness persists like a hardy slime mould. Key Takeaway Recognize and address deep‑rooted irrationality. Themes irrationality resilience culture science Mood critical ironic skeptical Type analytical satirical When to use this quote - education reform - media literacy - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts biology metaphor societal critique Questions to Reflect On - How does this metaphor shape our view of cultural flaws? - What practical steps can reduce collective irrationality? A Different Perspective Such analogies may oversimplify complex social issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Fright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fright/) [Organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Yellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yellow/) ## Related quotes > [Can anything be more disgusting than to hear people called 'educated' making small jokes about eating ham, and showing themselves empty of any real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/can-anything-be-more-disgusting-than-to-hear-people-called-educated/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“English: "Stupidity consists of limitation, madness of limitlessness, and genius of their balance." Česky: „Hloupost spočívá v omezenosti, bláznovství v bezmeznosti a genialita v…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-stupidity-consists-of-limitation-madness-of-limitlessness-and/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [It used to be standard practice that the pre-match meal consisted of egg, steak and chicken. But I talked them into changing to complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnston/it-used-to-be-standard-practice-that-the-pre-match-meal-consisted-of/) [Craig Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnston/) > [Worried about a skin condition? Leap smartly into a bath of porridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/worried-about-a-skin-condition-leap-smartly-into-a-bath-of-porridge/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Date syrup is a natural sweetener that has wonderful richness and treacly depth; I drizzle it over semolina porridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/date-syrup-is-a-natural-sweetener-that-has-wonderful-richness-and/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [You mean they killed her?" asked David. They ate her," said Brother Number One. "With porridge. 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