--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are paralyzed from advancing as a…" description: "\"We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as a culture because so many of the dominantly influential people in our country are actual idi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg" --- # We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as… ![“We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as a culture because so many of the dominantly influential people in our country are actual idiots who don't even have the ability to understand common sense when they hear it.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg) > “We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as a culture because so many of the dominantly influential people in our country are actual idiots who don't even have the ability to understand common sense when they hear it.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal progress is hindered by influential leaders lacking common sense. **In simple terms:** Leaders without sense block progress. Key Takeaway Demand competent leadership. Themes politics leadership competence Mood frustrated critical Type political commentary When to use this quote - policy making - public discourse - education reform - media consumption Key Concepts cognitive bias elite influence Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? - What reforms reduce influence of unqualified elites? A Different Perspective Even competent leaders face systemic obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Actual Idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actual-idiots-730763/) [Advancing Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancing-culture-2730134/) [Advancing Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancing-society-2730133/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiots/) [Idiots Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiots-don-1806204/) [Influential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influential/) [Influential people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influential-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Any community that gets its laughs by pretending to be idiots will eventually be flooded by actual idiots who mistakenly believe that they're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/any-community-that-gets-its-laughs-by-pretending-to-be-idiots-will/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“There are two kinds of idiots - those who don't take action because they have receive a threat, and those who think they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-two-kinds-of-idiots-those-who-don-t-take-action-because/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“If freedom frees the idiots, I don't think I've been set free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/showbread/if-freedom-frees-the-idiots-i-don-t-think-i-ve-been-set-free/) [Showbread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/showbread/) > [Idiots don't know they are idiots, I know I am an idiot therefore I am not an idiot ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/idiots-don-t-know-they-are-idiots-i-know-i-am-an-idiot-therefore-i-am/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you're surrounded by idiots, you're the unpopular one and the odd one out because idiots don't like smart asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-you-re-surrounded-by-idiots-you-re-the-unpopular-one-and-the-odd/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“They don't plant in rows because they're idiots,and they don't use farm equipment because they're idiots,and they don't plant in spring because they're idiots..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/they-don-t-plant-in-rows-because-they-re-idiots-and-they-don-t-use/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Idiots don't have wings, They just fly where winds blows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/idiots-don-t-have-wings-they-just-fly-where-winds-blows/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Idiots don't know they're idiots, which is unfortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/idiots-don-t-know-they-re-idiots-which-is-unfortunate/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [“And anyway most people are idiots. They don’t care about the why. They only care about what threatens them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/and-anyway-most-people-are-idiots-they-don-t-care-about-the-why-they/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [There are millions to be grabbed out here and your only competition is idiots. Don't let thisget around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-j-mankiewicz/there-are-millions-to-be-grabbed-out-here-and-your-only-competition/) [Herman J. Mankiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-j-mankiewicz/) > [Educated young people of color advancing in our society and economy is a goal that people of good will should wholeheartedly support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/educated-young-people-of-color-advancing-in-our-society-and-economy/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [“The world is full of idiots that don't understand what is important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sanchez/the-world-is-full-of-idiots-that-don-t-understand-what-is-important/) [Rick Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sanchez/) > [Something I say a lot when it comes to anti-feminist stereotypes is that they exist for a reason. The stereotypes of feminists as ugly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/something-i-say-a-lot-when-it-comes-to-anti-feminist-stereotypes-is/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [If... many influential people have failed to understand, or have just forgotten, what we were up against in the Cold War and how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-many-influential-people-have-failed-to-understand-or-have-just/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The most influential people strive for genuine buy-in and commitment - they don't rely on compliance techniques that only secure short-term persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/the-most-influential-people-strive-for-genuine-buy-in-and-commitment/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as a culture because so many of the dominantly influential people in our country are actual idiots who don't even have the ability to understand common sense when they hear it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rush Limbaugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-society-advancing-as-a-culture/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-society-advancing-as-a-culture/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/rush-limbaugh-28_ability_we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-soc_2700580.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are paralyzed from advancing as a society, advancing as a culture because so many of the dominantly…” — Rush Limbaugh", "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": "Rush Limbaugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are paralyzed from advancing as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-society-advancing-as-a-culture/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-are-paralyzed-from-advancing-as-a-society-advancing-as-a-culture/#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 } } ] } ```