--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When things don't go well, it helps to…" description: "\"When things don't go well, it helps to think of yourself as a genius and the rest of the world as a bunch of idiots.\" — Tom Perrotta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/tom-perrotta-3008_bunch_when-things-don-t-go-well-it-helps-to-th_3065751.png" --- # When things don't go well, it helps to think of yourself… ![“When things don't go well, it helps to think of yourself as a genius and the rest of the world as a bunch of idiots.” quote by Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/tom-perrotta-3008_bunch_when-things-don-t-go-well-it-helps-to-th_3065751.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/tom-perrotta-3008_bunch_when-things-don-t-go-well-it-helps-to-th_3065751.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/tom-perrotta-3008_bunch_when-things-don-t-go-well-it-helps-to-th_3065751.png) > “When things don't go well, it helps to think of yourself as a genius and the rest of the world as a bunch of idiots.” [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When things fail, adopting a genius self‑view and dismissing others as idiots can be a coping humor. **In simple terms:** Pretend you’re a genius, others are idiots. Key Takeaway Use humor to reframe failure. Themes ego humor coping perspective Mood wry self‑aware Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - creative work - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology self‑esteem social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When does this humor help? - When does it become harmful? A Different Perspective Dismissal of others can harm relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I've known for a long time that they're a bunch of idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-ve-known-for-a-long-time-that-they-re-a-bunch-of-idiots/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [If we tried to write about politics, you'd realize that we're all a bunch of idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/if-we-tried-to-write-about-politics-you-d-realize-that-we-re-all-a/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [Because Tom Doherty and people like that are not stupid. 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