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Junior Member
Posted
does anyone know who first said "Never ascribe to malicious intent that which can be readily explained by simple stupidity"
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: 09-21-09Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Quoteland Potentate
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Welcome to Quoteland.
That is a variation of something known as
Hanlon’s razor
http://forum.quoteland.com/eve...111971574#8111971574

Wikipedia blurb on Hanlon’s razor


 
Posts: 17236 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 06-07-00Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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There is also Ulmann's Razor (Mitchell Ulmann): When stupidity is a sufficient explanation, there is no need to have recourse to any other. Hanlon's is a variant of this.

Also, Schiller's Amendment (Friedrich von Schiller): With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.

An entertaining book is available to explain all these laws, Unwritten Laws, The Unofficial Rules of Life, by Hugh Rawson.


* * *
Since we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our minds, our one duty is to furnish it well~Peter Ustinov
 
Posts: 15582 | Location: CT | Registered: 08-30-00Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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many thanks to both of you for your thoughful assistance
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: 09-21-09Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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