Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Acts of stupidity are treated as serious crimes in this context.
In plain terms
Being foolish can be punished severely.
What can you take from it?
Incompetence can have severe consequences in high stakes environments.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • security
  • high stakes work

Putting it to work

  • prioritize competence
  • penalize errors
  • train thoroughly

Questions to consider

  • When does mistake become a crime?
  • How do you define stupidity in a team?

Another view

Equating stupidity with crime ignores intent and context.

More from Larry Niven

  1. I knew it long ago: I'm a compulsive teacher, but I can't teach. The godawful state of today's education system isn't what's stopping me. I lack at least two o…

    Permalink to quote #32
  2. We follow the scientists around and look over their shoulders. They're watching their feet: provable mistakes are bad for them. We're looking as far ahead as w…

    Permalink to quote #34
  3. To witness titanic events is always dangerous, usually painful, and often fatal.

    Permalink to quote #31

Related quotes

  1. The law which attempts a man's life [capital punishment] is impractical, unjust, inadmissible. It has never repressed crime-for a second crime is every day com…

    Donatien de SadeDonatien de Sade quote #1
  2. My appointees to the [Texas] board of pardons and paroles reflect my no-nonsense approach to crime and punishment. They believe people who commit crimes agains…

    George W. BushGeorge W. Bush quote #10
  3. Punishment is the last and least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime.

    John RuskinJohn Ruskin quote #13