--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never underestimate the potential for…" description: "\"Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.\" — Raymond E. Feist" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/raymond-e-feist-6614_human-stupidity_never-underestimate-the-potential-for-hu_2162100.jpg" --- # Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when… ![“Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.” quote by Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/raymond-e-feist-6614_human-stupidity_never-underestimate-the-potential-for-hu_2162100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/raymond-e-feist-6614_human-stupidity_never-underestimate-the-potential-for-hu_2162100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/raymond-e-feist-6614_human-stupidity_never-underestimate-the-potential-for-hu_2162100.jpg) > “Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.” [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power and wealth can make people act foolishly, so beware of their corrupting influence. **In simple terms:** Wealth and power breed stupidity. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant of corrupting influence. Themes politics wealth human folly Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - political campaigns - investment decisions Key Concepts psychology corruption risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What checks can limit power abuse? - How does wealth affect decision making? A Different Perspective Not all stupidity stems from power; other factors exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-stupidity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Stupidity Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity-wealth-2451494/) [Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate/) [Underestimate Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate-potential-985674/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-power-299477/) ## Related quotes > [“Never underestimate the potential of your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/never-underestimate-the-potential-of-your-dreams/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Never underestimate someone's potential when you give them the gift of trust and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-crow/never-underestimate-someone-s-potential-when-you-give-them-the-gift/) [Robin Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-crow/) > [Never underestimate your potential for Jannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boonaa-mohammed/never-underestimate-your-potential-for-jannah/) [Boonaa Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boonaa-mohammed/) > [“They are more cunning than practical. When they make up their ledger, they balance stupidity by wealth, and vice by hypocrisy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/they-are-more-cunning-than-practical-when-they-make-up-their-ledger/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“When they make up their ledger, they balance stupidity by wealth, and vice by hypocrisy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/when-they-make-up-their-ledger-they-balance-stupidity-by-wealth-and/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I think the perception of wealth and power is that things just become easier and easier when in reality as you raise the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/i-think-the-perception-of-wealth-and-power-is-that-things-just-become/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-attribute-to-malice-that-which-can-be-adequately-explained-by-2/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-underestimate-the-power-of-human-stupidity/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never underestimate human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/never-underestimate-human-stupidity/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” “There’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-underestimate-the-power-of-human-stupidity-there-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [We can not underestimate the potential harm North Korea's capabilities can cause for the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-wamp/we-can-not-underestimate-the-potential-harm-north-korea-s/) [Zach Wamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-wamp/) > [When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-arrest-the/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn't I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-atwater/i-acquired-more-wealth-power-and-prestige-than-most-but-you-can/) [Lee Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-atwater/) > [I think the big problem is you have a vicious cycle of wealth and power in America that's just gotten completely out of control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-the-big-problem-is-you-have-a-vicious-cycle-of-wealth-and/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More by Raymond E. Feist > [Often I'll try things that just won't happen the way I'd like them to, so hearing that they're not working saves me some wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/often-i-ll-try-things-that-just-won-t-happen-the-way-i-d-like-them-to/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [A hero is someone who simply got too frightened to use his good sense and run away, then somehow lived through it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/a-hero-is-someone-who-simply-got-too-frightened-to-use-his-good-sense/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [“My father used to say, “a day spent breathing is a good day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/my-father-used-to-say-a-day-spent-breathing-is-a-good-day/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [“Knowing what things are not is often as important as knowing what they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/knowing-what-things-are-not-is-often-as-important-as-knowing-what/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [You would do well to know, Marcus, that irritating a better swordsman than yourself is a good way to end up dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/you-would-do-well-to-know-marcus-that-irritating-a-better-swordsman/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [“Kings and marshals can look back and relive their triumphs, their great victories. We common folk must take what pleasure we can from life's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/kings-and-marshals-can-look-back-and-relive-their-triumphs-their/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I feel when a writer treats a character as 'precious,' the writer runs the risk of turning them into a comic book character. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-feel-when-a-writer-treats-a-character-as-precious-the-writer-runs/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [“All right, me darlings. You heard the Captain. Look around and tell ol'Biggo what you thieving rascals grabbed when you ran for your lives!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/all-right-me-darlings-you-heard-the-captain-look-around-and-tell-ol/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Writing is hard work; it's also the best job I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/writing-is-hard-work-it-s-also-the-best-job-i-ve-ever-had/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [If I leave my computer, I'm probably not going to get back for hours. If I take a few minutes to answer questions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/if-i-leave-my-computer-i-m-probably-not-going-to-get-back-for-hours/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I keep threatening to write a non-fantasy book, and they keep offering me the kind of money I can't refuse to write a fantasy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-keep-threatening-to-write-a-non-fantasy-book-and-they-keep-offering/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I don't like fantasy where a king snaps his fingers and suddenly a whole army appears and goes off to war - he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-like-fantasy-where-a-king-snaps-his-fingers-and-suddenly-a/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I know you'll think this odd, but I find it strangely exhilarating not knowing what's coming next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-know-you-ll-think-this-odd-but-i-find-it-strangely-exhilarating-not/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I don't write fantasy; I write historical novels about an imaginary place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-write-fantasy-i-write-historical-novels-about-an-imaginary/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [ATLANTA NIGHTS is sure to please the reader who enjoys this sort of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/atlanta-nights-is-sure-to-please-the-reader-who-enjoys-this-sort-of/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) [Explore all 98 Raymond E. Feist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) ## More Human stupidity quotes > [“...the endless labour of rolling human stupidity up the steep hill of understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-endless-labour-of-rolling-human-stupidity-up-the-steep-hill-of/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-underestimate-the-power-of-human-stupidity/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Religious and racial persecution is moronic at all times, perhaps the most idiotic of human stupidities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/religious-and-racial-persecution-is-moronic-at-all-times-perhaps-the/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Never underestimate human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/never-underestimate-human-stupidity/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-in-rank-and-file-has-already-earned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“By studying human history, we can realize how much of human stupidity has fallen on fertile ground. Is gravity guilty for such an occurrence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/by-studying-human-history-we-can-realize-how-much-of-human-stupidity/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-attribute-to-malice-that-which-can-be-adequately-explained-by-2/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [ “\[On Dr. Strangelove \]: My idea of doing it as a nightmare comedy came in the early weeks of working on the screenplay. \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/on-dr-strangelove-my-idea-of-doing-it-as-a-nightmare-comedy-came-in/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [“By the time the Somnambulist had set her creaking bones to rest on their assigned landing pad, Holden had lost all patience with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/by-the-time-the-somnambulist-had-set-her-creaking-bones-to-rest-on/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-two-things-are-infinite-the-universe-and-human-stupidity-and-i-m/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“I had written the sentence, 'You mustn't think that the evolution that gave rise to us was the only evolutionary possibility on this planet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/i-had-written-the-sentence-you-mustn-t-think-that-the-evolution-that/) [Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) > [It is so hard for an evolutionary biologist to write about extinction caused by human stupidity. Let me then float an unconventional plea, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/it-is-so-hard-for-an-evolutionary-biologist-to-write-about-extinction/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [There is a limit to human intelligence, but there is no limit to human stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-scaruffi/there-is-a-limit-to-human-intelligence-but-there-is-no-limit-to-human/) [Piero Scaruffi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-scaruffi/) > [Human stupidity truely exceeds my IQ, how can we broadcast a million dollar advert asking for donations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-maelane/human-stupidity-truely-exceeds-my-iq-how-can-we-broadcast-a-million/) [Joseph Maelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-maelane/) [Browse all 58 Human stupidity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-stupidity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raymond E. 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