An Italian economist named Carlo Cipolla wrote a book called “The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.” I know the word “stupid” can be offensive and harsh but stick with me because he makes an important point in the book. He says there are four types of people:
1. Helpless people who benefit others but bring a loss to themselves.
2. Intelligent people who benefit others while benefiting themselves as well.
3. Bandits who benefit themselves while bringing loss to others.
4. Stupid people who bring loss to others and themselves.
He says there will always be more stupid people in the population than we believe because people with intelligence can’t imagine why someone would do something that hurts others and hurts themselves.
I think what Carlo Cipolla calls stupidity and intelligence is what King Solomon calls wisdom versus folly. The better word for stupid might be foolish. And King Solomon talks about this dynamic in Ecclesiastes 2:12 to 14 when he says:
“Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
and also madness and folly.
What more can the king’s successor do
than what has already been done?
I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
just as light is better than darkness.
The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.”
– Ecclesiastes 2 12-14
Solomon and Carlo Cipolla came to the same conclusion. There are always going to be some people around us who choose foolishness and if you’ve got any wisdom at all you’re gonna wonder why would someone do things that hurt others while hurting themselves. Honestly, if you’re trying to help someone who is choosing foolishness, you might actually end up getting hurt in the process. Solomon also said:
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13 20
The challenge we constantly face is to recognize there will always be foolish people in our lives. It may look like they’re actually getting away with living this way or maybe even seem happy, but we can’t fall for the illusion that living foolishly is better than living wisely.
There is inherent value in choosing wisdom, even if you’re surrounded every day by people who choose foolishness. Sometimes, we have to love certain people from a distance because they’re constantly choosing foolishness. My prayer is that we would be those who choose to walk in wisdom by making sure we’re living to lift others up while at the same time taking care of ourselves and our families in a way that honors God right here under the sun.
Part 1: Wisdom for When You Want to Check Out
Part 2: Finding Contentment in a World Full of Achievement
Part 3: Is Getting What You Want Leaving You Empty?
Part 4: How to Protect Yourself from Foolish People
Photo Credit: SWN Design
Joël Malm is the founder of Summit Leaders where he uses outdoor adventure and leadership coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions have taken him around the world to places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Grand Canyon, and Machu Picchu. He has traveled in over seventy countries on six continents and speaks three languages. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Counseling.
He speaks at churches, conferences, and corporate events around the country and is the author of seven books, including Vision Map (Moody Press), Connecting the Dots, and Keep It Light. (Salem/Regnery) He and his wife Emily and daughter Elise live in Texas.
Find out more at: http://joelmalm.com
