--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You could reason with someone who was…" description: "\"You could reason with someone who was halfway educated and appeal to his intelligence, but I felt helpless in the face of utter stupidity.\" — Robert Co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/robert-cormier-6436_appeals_you-could-reason-with-someone-who-was-ha_1440373.png" --- # You could reason with someone who was halfway educated and… ![“You could reason with someone who was halfway educated and appeal to his intelligence, but I felt helpless in the face of utter stupidity.” quote by Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/robert-cormier-6436_appeals_you-could-reason-with-someone-who-was-ha_1440373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/robert-cormier-6436_appeals_you-could-reason-with-someone-who-was-ha_1440373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/robert-cormier-6436_appeals_you-could-reason-with-someone-who-was-ha_1440373.png) > “You could reason with someone who was halfway educated and appeal to his intelligence, but I felt helpless in the face of utter stupidity.” [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reasoning with the uneducated can be futile; intelligence alone may not overcome ignorance. **In simple terms:** Reasoning may fail with ignorance. Key Takeaway Seek empathy before argument. Themes education ignorance communication frustration Mood patient concerned Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - classroom debates - family disagreements - political discourse Key Concepts critical thinking empathy Questions to Reflect On - When is it worth trying to reason? - How to handle frustration product? 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