---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way that we make dumb decisions and…"
description: "\"The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory decisions is by employing stereotypes about groups of people. We don't see people as fully human..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png"
---

#  The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory…

![“The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory decisions is by employing stereotypes about groups of people. We don't see people as fully human when other people speak for them.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png)

> “The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory decisions is by employing stereotypes about groups of people. We don't see people as fully human when other people speak for them.”

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stereotypes reduce people to simplistic traits, leading to biased and unfair choices.

**In simple terms:** Stereotypes cause unfair decisions.

Key Takeaway

Recognize each person’s full humanity.

Themes

bias stereotyping decisionmaking humanity

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analytical ethical

When to use this quote

- Hiring
- policy making
- media reporting
- education
- interpersonal relations

Key Concepts

social psychology implicit bias group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you challenge your own assumptions?
- What policies reduce group bias?

A Different Perspective

Stereotypes are often unconscious and hard to eliminate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decisions Discriminatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-discriminatory-1713571/) [Discriminatory Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discriminatory-decisions-1713573/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-decisions/) [Employing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employing/) [Employing Stereotypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employing-stereotypes-1713567/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) [Stereotypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes/) [Stereotypes Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypes-groups-1713569/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [We are the greatest computers in this world, but now we've created the smart phone which is smarter than us now, but we're still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bootsy-collins/we-are-the-greatest-computers-in-this-world-but-now-we-ve-created-the/)

[Bootsy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bootsy-collins/)

> [“Of course, the cool kids have no idea that what they’re engaging in is really just another biological trick. They actually think they’re being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/of-course-the-cool-kids-have-no-idea-that-what-they-re-engaging-in-is/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

> [I went to school at MIT with a whole bunch of engineers. And then I started work one day and asked myself, 'Why do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/i-went-to-school-at-mit-with-a-whole-bunch-of-engineers-and-then-i/)

[Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/)

> [Strategic plans cause more dumb decisions than anything else in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/strategic-plans-cause-more-dumb-decisions-than-anything-else-in/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [How I wish we could all see the cost of our choices as clearly as a price tag on items in a store. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/how-i-wish-we-could-all-see-the-cost-of-our-choices-as-clearly-as-a/)

[Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/)

> [What are the odds that people will make smart decisions about money if they don't need to make smart decisions--if they can get rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/what-are-the-odds-that-people-will-make-smart-decisions-about-money-2/)

[Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/)

> [Outstanding long-term results are produced primarily by avoiding dumb decisions, rather than by making brilliant ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/outstanding-long-term-results-are-produced-primarily-by-avoiding-dumb/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [When you get a lot of money thrown at you, you can make some dumb decisions without the right advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/when-you-get-a-lot-of-money-thrown-at-you-you-can-make-some-dumb/)

[Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/)

> [I bought a company in the mid-'90s called Dexter Shoe and paid $400 million for it. And it went to zero. And I gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-bought-a-company-in-the-mid-90s-called-dexter-shoe-and-paid-400/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [“What are the odds that people will make smart decisions about money if they don’t need to make smart decisions—if they can get rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/what-are-the-odds-that-people-will-make-smart-decisions-about-money/)

[Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/)

> [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/)

[Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/)

> [The Postal Service is huge - employing more than a half million people - and its history is long and complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/the-postal-service-is-huge-employing-more-than-a-half-million-people/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

> [ELEGY, n. A composition in verse, in which, without employing any of the methods of humor, the writer aims to produce in the reader's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/elegy-n-a-composition-in-verse-in-which-without-employing-any-of-the/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [Technological society leads to increasing numbers of people who cannot adapt to the inhuman rhythm of modern life with its emphasis on specialization. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/technological-society-leads-to-increasing-numbers-of-people-who/)

[Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/)

> [We endeavour to employ only symmetrical figures, such as should not only be an aid to reasoning, through the sense of sight, but should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-venn/we-endeavour-to-employ-only-symmetrical-figures-such-as-should-not/)

[John Venn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-venn/)

## More by Rachel Maddow

> [ Ben Carson also denounced \[Donald\] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s-ban-all-muslims-proposal/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [If you're working on better conditions for prisoners, if you make that a popular issue and you invite mainstream media to weigh in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/if-you-re-working-on-better-conditions-for-prisoners-if-you-make-that/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [Liberals say that we are secular country with a majority of Christians, absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/liberals-say-that-we-are-secular-country-with-a-majority-of/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [What's insulting to the American people, the Senate, to this whole process is that the Republicans, with all other nominees, have said Democrats are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/what-s-insulting-to-the-american-people-the-senate-to-this-whole/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [Oswald Mosley's movement, it was a big movement. It was obviously anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, it was populist. Mosley wanted to replace the parliamentary system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/oswald-mosley-s-movement-it-was-a-big-movement-it-was-obviously-anti/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [Pentagon dollars are essentially seen as a different kind of funding that doesn't have to stand for itself and make an argument for itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/pentagon-dollars-are-essentially-seen-as-a-different-kind-of-funding/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [Military preparedness is absolutely a form of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/military-preparedness-is-absolutely-a-form-of-strength/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [When Conservatives crusade against government while they are trying to be appointed to head the government, I think that's weird!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/when-conservatives-crusade-against-government-while-they-are-trying/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [One of the manifestations of depression for me is that I lose my will. And I thereby lose my ability to focus. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/one-of-the-manifestations-of-depression-for-me-is-that-i-lose-my-will/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [There had been a proposed plank for the platform that said the Republican Party believed the United States should support Ukraine in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/there-had-been-a-proposed-plank-for-the-platform-that-said-the/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [John McCain has refused to ever criticize Sarah Palin, to ever admit there was anything wrong about her choice. He has been capital "L"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/john-mccain-has-refused-to-ever-criticize-sarah-palin-to-ever-admit/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [ The more you push back on Donald \[Trump\], whether you're in the media or whether you are in the GOP establishment, the stronger his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-more-you-push-back-on-donald-trump-whether-you-re-in-the-media-or/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

[Explore all 268 Rachel Maddow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

## More Decision quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/)

[Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/)

> [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/)

[Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/)

> [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/)

[Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/)

> [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/)

[Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/)

> [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

[Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory decisions is by employing stereotypes about groups of people. We don't see people as fully human when other people speak for them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rachel Maddow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and-discriminatory-decisions-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decision"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and-discriminatory-decisions-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/rachel-maddow-1240_decision_the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and_1763586.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The way that we make dumb decisions and discriminatory decisions is by employing stereotypes about groups of…” — Rachel Maddow",
                "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": "Rachel Maddow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The way that we make dumb...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and-discriminatory-decisions-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-way-that-we-make-dumb-decisions-and-discriminatory-decisions-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
