--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a wondrous human characteristic to…" description: "\"“It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip into and out of idiocy many times a day without noticing the change or accidentally killing i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg" --- # It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip… ![“It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip into and out of idiocy many times a day without noticing the change or accidentally killing innocent bystanders in the process.” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg) > ““It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip into and out of idiocy many times a day without noticing the change or accidentally killing innocent bystanders in the process.”” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans often shift between rationality and absurdity unnoticed, sometimes causing unintended harm. **In simple terms:** People can be absurd without realizing it, causing harm. Key Takeaway Stay aware of your reasoning. Themes selfawareness human nature consequences Mood reflective cautious Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - daily work - political discourse - online debates - personal relationships Key Concepts cognitive bias irrationality social impact Questions to Reflect On - How often do you catch yourself being irrational? - What steps can you take to notice harmful patterns? A Different Perspective Humans may not recognize their own absurdity until damage occurs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Idiocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiocy/) ## Related quotes > [Man's most human characteristic is not his ability to learn, which he shares with many other species, but his ability to teach and store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/man-s-most-human-characteristic-is-not-his-ability-to-learn-which-he/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Which is the most universal human characteristic: Fear or laziness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-mackey/which-is-the-most-universal-human-characteristic-fear-or-laziness/) [Louis Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-mackey/) > [There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/there-seems-to-be-some-perverse-human-characteristic-that-likes-to/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The hand is, in the highest degree, a human characteristic. It is man's organ of grasp and of the sense of touch, while in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-hand-is-in-the-highest-degree-a-human-characteristic-it-is-man-s/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The most perfect caricature is that which, on a small surface, with the simplest means, most accurately exaggerates, to the highest point, the peculiarities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/the-most-perfect-caricature-is-that-which-on-a-small-surface-with-the/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [I would suggest that barbarism be considered as a permanent and universal human characteristic which becomes more or less pronounced according to the play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/i-would-suggest-that-barbarism-be-considered-as-a-permanent-and/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A fundamental element of human nature is the need for creative work, for creative inquiry, for free creation without the arbitrary limiting effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-fundamental-element-of-human-nature-is-the-need-for-creative-work-2/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There is not a single human characteristic that can be safely labeled as American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-not-a-single-human-characteristic-that-can-be-safely-labeled/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [One can relish the varied idiocy of human action during a panic to the full, for, while it is a time of great tragedy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/one-can-relish-the-varied-idiocy-of-human-action-during-a-panic-to/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [If ignorance is bliss, then more people should be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dtk-smith/if-ignorance-is-bliss-then-more-people-should-be-happy/) [David DtK Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dtk-smith/) > [We are growing up. We are growing up! 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But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. 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I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/failure-always-brings-something-valuable-with-it-i-don-t-let-it-leave/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The longer you verk here, diverse it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-longer-you-verk-here-diverse-it-gets/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“On all the important stuff, we are emotional creatures who make decisions first and rationalize them after the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/on-all-the-important-stuff-we-are-emotional-creatures-who-make/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“What you rarely see is a stillborn failure that transmogrifies into a stellar success. Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. 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I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip into and out of idiocy many times a day without noticing the change or accidentally killing innocent bystanders in the process.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to-be-able-to-slip-into-and-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to-be-able-to-slip-into-and-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scott-adams-666_change_it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to_2064514.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a wondrous human characteristic to be able to slip into and out of idiocy many times a day without…” — Scott Adams", "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": "Scott Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is a wondrous human characteristic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to-be-able-to-slip-into-and-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-a-wondrous-human-characteristic-to-be-able-to-slip-into-and-out/#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 } } ] } ```