--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most distinguishable about the idiot…" description: "\"“Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was their fear of that which was different. Those who feared difference always made a point of find..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg" --- # Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was… ![“Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was their fear of that which was different. Those who feared difference always made a point of finding difference in others in order to feel more secure in their sameness.” quote by Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg) > ““Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was their fear of that which was different. Those who feared difference always made a point of finding difference in others in order to feel more secure in their sameness.”” [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques how fear of the unfamiliar drives people to highlight differences to feel secure. **In simple terms:** Fear of difference makes people seek out differences in others. Key Takeaway Challenge fear of the unfamiliar. Themes prejudice security identity social behavior Mood analytical critical Type social philosophical When to use this quote - cultural debates - workplace diversity training - political rhetoric Key Concepts othering group dynamics psychological defense Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape your judgments? - What steps can reduce fear of difference? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on differences can reinforce division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) ## Related quotes > [I used to believe everything my brother told me, because he was older and I figured he knew more about the world. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-used-to-believe-everything-my-brother-told-me-because-he-was-older/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“But sorrow can also be contagious. Fear is different. It isn't as communicable as laughter or sadness, and a good thing too. Fear is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/but-sorrow-can-also-be-contagious-fear-is-different-it-isn-t-as/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Respect and fear are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/respect-and-fear-are-two-different-things/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [Fear that I was very different from everyone else. Fear that deep down inside I was a shallow fraud, that after the revolution or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/fear-that-i-was-very-different-from-everyone-else-fear-that-deep-down/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“I've had a lot of therapists, so I've had the opportunity to approach my fear in many different ways. I've faced it head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-white/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-therapists-so-i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-approach/) [Anna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-white/) > [The fear of being different prevents most people from seeking new ways to solve their problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-fear-of-being-different-prevents-most-people-from-seeking-new/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“The pain remained. And the fear. That she was so different. A monster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jackson/the-pain-remained-and-the-fear-that-she-was-so-different-a-monster/) [Lisa Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jackson/) > [“One can only understand the power of the fear to be different, the fear to be only a few steps away from the herd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/one-can-only-understand-the-power-of-the-fear-to-be-different-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [It's okay to be scared, but fear is different. Fear is when we let being scared prevent us from doing what love requires of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/it-s-okay-to-be-scared-but-fear-is-different-fear-is-when-we-let/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [“Fear is different; it remains; it causes prejudice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-talmage-mathis/fear-is-different-it-remains-it-causes-prejudice/) [John-Talmage Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-talmage-mathis/) > [“When I was younger, my brother told me that he had the power to shrink me to the size of an ant. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-i-was-younger-my-brother-told-me-that-he-had-the-power-to-shrink/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because people fear those who are different. And fear can make people do stupid things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/because-people-fear-those-who-are-different-and-fear-can-make-people/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [I think I'm generally - fear, fear is very still, so in terms of that kind of fear - there's so many different kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-think-i-m-generally-fear-fear-is-very-still-so-in-terms-of-that/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [Steven wrote to me today, saying, 'Don't you feel like sticking your head out of the window and yelling, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/steven-wrote-to-me-today-saying-don-t-you-feel-like-sticking-your/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [“The things you desire and the things you fear are not always different things. Sometimes your desire for something outweights your fear...and sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-alistar/the-things-you-desire-and-the-things-you-fear-are-not-always/) [Luke Alistar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-alistar/) ## More by Sean DeLauder > [“At that moment he understood, far better than he had before when he studied their histories and their political structures before he arrived, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/at-that-moment-he-understood-far-better-than-he-had-before-when-he/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“That was the nature of hope. Sustaining, but of little practical purpose besides.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/that-was-the-nature-of-hope-sustaining-but-of-little-practical/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“Most people gladly blended into the unoffending beige of humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-people-gladly-blended-into-the-unoffending-beige-of-humanity/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“That was my cathartic moment - when I realized humans have difficulty believing in themselves, but if someone believes in them, they can accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/that-was-my-cathartic-moment-when-i-realized-humans-have-difficulty/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“For all their simplicity, humans could be remarkably perceptive, though they didn't know it most of the time, and their ability to thrust straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/for-all-their-simplicity-humans-could-be-remarkably-perceptive-though/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“A name isn't important. It doesn't make you, you make it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/a-name-isn-t-important-it-doesn-t-make-you-you-make-it/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“Hedge was enthralled by her symmetry, yet the word was too cool and dry. She was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/hedge-was-enthralled-by-her-symmetry-yet-the-word-was-too-cool-and/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“Was it right to extinguish those few bright spots for the sins of the many? On the other hand, was it okay to spare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/was-it-right-to-extinguish-those-few-bright-spots-for-the-sins-of-the/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“It was easier to scribble over memories a person didn't want to remember, so they searched for these people - the abused and neglected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/it-was-easier-to-scribble-over-memories-a-person-didn-t-want-to/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“It was an ignorant perception of the past at which most scoffed, but those who were wiser simply shook their heads in embarrassment knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/it-was-an-ignorant-perception-of-the-past-at-which-most-scoffed-but/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“History loved to lie, through simple distortion or complete fabrication. Lies were the cosmetics of history, and when history could not be beautiful, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/history-loved-to-lie-through-simple-distortion-or-complete/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [“Most people tacitly agreed to permit cruelty rather than risk being subject to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-people-tacitly-agreed-to-permit-cruelty-rather-than-risk-being/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) [Explore all 13 Sean DeLauder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was their fear of that which was different. Those who feared difference always made a point of finding difference in others in order to feel more secure in their sameness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sean DeLauder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hedge-noted-was-their-fear-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hedge-noted-was-their-fear-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/sean-delauder-35543_fear_most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hed_247314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge noted, was their fear of that which was different. Those who…” — Sean DeLauder", "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": "Sean DeLauder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Most distinguishable about the idiot, Hedge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hedge-noted-was-their-fear-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/most-distinguishable-about-the-idiot-hedge-noted-was-their-fear-of/#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 } } ] } ```