--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest of all sins is stupidity." description: "\"The greatest of all sins is stupidity.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg" --- # The greatest of all sins is stupidity. ![“The greatest of all sins is stupidity.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg) > “The greatest of all sins is stupidity.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stupidity is the gravest moral failing because it prevents learning and growth. **In simple terms:** Stupidity is a serious sin. Key Takeaway Avoid ignorance, seek knowledge. Themes wisdom responsibility learning Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - education - decision making - leadership - personal development Key Concepts critical thinking humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize and correct your own stupidity? - What steps will you take to stay informed? A Different Perspective Stupidity may be unintentional, not always a moral choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-sins-289740/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Sins Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-stupidity-3257825/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) ## Related quotes > [Unbelief is the greatest of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/unbelief-is-the-greatest-of-sins/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [While we fight and argue about abortion and sexual orientation, we apparently forgot one of the greatest sins that God continuously acknowledges He hates:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/while-we-fight-and-argue-about-abortion-and-sexual-orientation-we/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [Yet avarice is numbered among the sins, but stupidity omitted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-farnum/yet-avarice-is-numbered-among-the-sins-but-stupidity-omitted/) [E. B. Farnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-farnum/) > [It is in the brain, and the brain only, that the great sins of the world take place also. You, Mr. Gray, you yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-in-the-brain-and-the-brain-only-that-the-great-sins-of-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Can that which is the greatest virtue in philosophy, doubt (called by Galileo the father of invention), be in religion what the priests term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/can-that-which-is-the-greatest-virtue-in-philosophy-doubt-called-by/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Ugliness is the greatest of all sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-l-peretz/ugliness-is-the-greatest-of-all-sins/) [I. L. Peretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-l-peretz/) > [“One of mankind’s greatest sins is inaction in the face of injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kramer/one-of-mankind-s-greatest-sins-is-inaction-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [John Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kramer/) > [Lying is the greatest of all sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-nobel/lying-is-the-greatest-of-all-sins/) [Alfred Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-nobel/) > [There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-say-that-the-great-sprawling/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [It turns out that speeding irresponsibly in a large truck, placing personal wealth ahead of the welfare of others, is one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/it-turns-out-that-speeding-irresponsibly-in-a-large-truck-placing/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-represent-to-you-all-the-sins-you-have-never-had-the-courage-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Sins of the flesh are nothing. They are maladies for physicians to cure, if they should be cured. Sins of the soul alone are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sins-of-the-flesh-are-nothing-they-are-maladies-for-physicians-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Charity creates a multitude of sins. Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/charity-creates-a-multitude-of-sins-every-portrait-that-is-painted/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Charity creates a multitude of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/charity-creates-a-multitude-of-sins/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“We are punished for our refusals. Every impulse that we strive to strangle broods in the mind and poisons us. The body sins once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-are-punished-for-our-refusals-every-impulse-that-we-strive-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Greatest quotes > [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [The last goal I ever scored in professional football was at Goodison Park - a glancing header for Aston Villa in a 1-0 win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/the-last-goal-i-ever-scored-in-professional-football-was-at-goodison/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [Shawn Michaels, to me and to so many people, is just the greatest in-ring performer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/shawn-michaels-to-me-and-to-so-many-people-is-just-the-greatest-in/) [Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/) > [The hard-working Mexican tries to get up here looking for opportunities because America's one of the greatest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-hard-working-mexican-tries-to-get-up-here-looking-for/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calista-flockhart/the-way-the-world-underestimates-me-will-be-my-greatest-weapon/) [Calista Flockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calista-flockhart/) > [I don't mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around. Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-don-t-mind-people-want-to-think-muhammad-is-the-greatest-fighter/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [My greatest work comes in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/my-greatest-work-comes-in-the-community/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [One of the greatest of all sources of misery is comparing yourself to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/one-of-the-greatest-of-all-sources-of-misery-is-comparing-yourself-to/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [The greatest failure is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-greatest-failure-is-the-failure-to-try/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [To die in battle would be my greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramzan-kadyrov/to-die-in-battle-would-be-my-greatest-joy/) [Ramzan Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramzan-kadyrov/) [Browse all 2,783 Greatest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest of all sins is stupidity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greatest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/oscar-wilde-16_greatest_the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity-35_353180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest of all sins is stupidity.” — Oscar Wilde", "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": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest of all sins is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity/#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 } } ] } ```