Do you think Arabs are dumb? They gave us our numbers. Try doing long division with Roman numerals.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author argues that Arab contributions to mathematics, specifically the numeral system, are too significant to dismiss Arabs as unintelligent.
- In plain terms
- Arabs gave us numbers, so they are not dumb.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize historical contributions before judging a group.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What contributions do you overlook?
- How do you judge intelligence?
Another view
The quote uses a rhetorical question that might not address the person being targeted directly.
More from Kurt Vonnegut
Evolution is so creative. That's how we got giraffes.
Permalink to quote #222 It is almost always a mistake to mention Abraham Lincoln. He always steals the show.
Permalink to quote #224 You know, the truth can be really powerful stuff. You're not expecting it.
Permalink to quote #221
Related quotes
I started clipping and filing by categories on trends as early as 1930 and my 'youngest' file was started in 1945. Span of time is important; the 3-legged stoo…
Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein quote #16 I'm sure a mathematician would claim that 0 and 1 are both very interesting numbers. :-)
Larry WallLarry Wall quote #89 I believe no woman could have invented calculus.
Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein quote #174