--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people are such fools that it is…" description: "\"Most people are such fools that it is really no great compliment to say that someone is above the average.\" — W. Somerset Maugham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/w-somerset-maugham-237_average_most-people-are-such-fools-that-it-is-re_480796.jpg" --- # Most people are such fools that it is really no great… ![“Most people are such fools that it is really no great compliment to say that someone is above the average.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/w-somerset-maugham-237_average_most-people-are-such-fools-that-it-is-re_480796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/w-somerset-maugham-237_average_most-people-are-such-fools-that-it-is-re_480796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/w-somerset-maugham-237_average_most-people-are-such-fools-that-it-is-re_480796.jpg) > “Most people are such fools that it is really no great compliment to say that someone is above the average.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calling someone above average is not a genuine compliment because it implies mediocrity as norm. **In simple terms:** Labeling above average isn’t flattering. Key Takeaway Avoid vague praise; be specific. Themes recognition social norms humility Mood thoughtful critical Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - Performance reviews - team feedback - educational settings Key Concepts Self‑esteem comparative judgment Questions to Reflect On - What is a more meaningful way to praise? - How does vague praise affect motivation? A Different Perspective Specific feedback can be harder to formulate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Some people are plain fools some are really stupid,when you love someone who doesnt love you back desperately youre a fool.if u dont have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/some-people-are-plain-fools-some-are-really-stupid-when-you-love/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [They say the average person can't make a living in art... but if you tell me there's something I can't do, that's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sutherland/they-say-the-average-person-can-t-make-a-living-in-art-but-if-you/) [George Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sutherland/) > [“What name do you use then, for two people who help each other?” “Why are they helping each other?” “Simply to be kind, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-manning/what-name-do-you-use-then-for-two-people-who-help-each-other-why-are/) [Michael G. 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In some, one half of the people are fools and madmen; in some, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-have-been-in-several-provinces-of-that-kingdom-in-some-one-half-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The young people think the old people are fools -- but the old people know the young people are fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-young-people-think-the-old-people-are-fools-but-the-old-people/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [God helps three sorts of people: fools, children and drunkards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/god-helps-three-sorts-of-people-fools-children-and-drunkards/) Proverb > [I'd like to say it is only average people who revel in the mistakes of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibel-kekilli/i-d-like-to-say-it-is-only-average-people-who-revel-in-the-mistakes/) [Sibel Kekilli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibel-kekilli/) > ['Is that really the best you can say? An average-looking boy? An awful lot of boys are average-looking, S.Q.!' And poor S.Q., he just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/is-that-really-the-best-you-can-say-an-average-looking-boy-an-awful/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [People are fools, not monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/people-are-fools-not-monsters/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [It was not power that corrupted people, but fools who corrupted power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-not-power-that-corrupted-people-but-fools-who-corrupted-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people are fools, most authority is malignant, God does not exist, and everything is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/most-people-are-fools-most-authority-is-malignant-god-does-not-exist/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [President Biden has gotten away his entire career with bending the truth and taking people for fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/president-biden-has-gotten-away-his-entire-career-with-bending-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [Because other people are fools, must you be so too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/because-other-people-are-fools-must-you-be-so-too/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Young people tell what they are doing, old people what they have done and fools what they wish to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-proverb/young-people-tell-what-they-are-doing-old-people-what-they-have-done/) French Proverb > [Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with that it's compounding a felony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/drinking-makes-such-fools-of-people-and-people-are-such-fools-to/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## More by W. 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We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“There is no more merit in having read a thousand books than in having ploughed a thousand fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-more-merit-in-having-read-a-thousand-books-than-in-having/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-wanted-to-live-again-and-again-i-was-willing-to-accept-every-sort/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. 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Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. 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