The art of pretending to be ＂DUMB＂ (Schopenhauer)

Schopenhauer's wisdom .

Why pretending to be foolish might be the smartest move .

There is nothing a man takes more pride in than his intellectual ability .

It is this very faculty that grants him his dominant position in the animal kingdom .

However , it is extremely unwise to let someone realize that you are decidedly superior to them in this regard , especially if others also notice it .

This often stirs resentment and the desire for revenge .

Intellectual ability , one of humanity's most cherished qualities , elevates us to the top of the animal hierarchy .

Yet it can also be our greatest trap .

Schopenhauer , toward the end of his life , dedicated himself to offering practical advice for everyday living .

Among these pieces of advice is one that may be hard to swallow , but is crucial .

Pretend to be foolish .

Schopenhauer discusses the ignorant masses versus the genius , and how this genius should behave in society .

It may sound strange , even offensive , but Schopenhauer's point revolves around surviving in a world where envy and resentment can become dangerous foes .

Before we dive into this fascinating topic , if you enjoy this video , don't forget to leave a like and subscribe to the channel .

Let's get started .

When a person of great intellect is forced to mingle with intellectually less fortunate groups , the best course of action , according to Schopenhauer , is to feign stupidity .

He even suggests that it is a genuine recommendation to act foolish .

Just as warmth is pleasant to the body , the mind benefits from feeling superior , and man instinctively seeks company that grants him this sensation , much like approaching a fireplace or basking in the sun for warmth .

The reason why pretending to be foolish is worthwhile is that intelligence in others evokes strong feelings of resentment and envy .

To clarify this further , imagine you are conversing with someone less intelligent .

Now , suppose the other person realizes that you are intellectually superior , what do you think they will feel ?

Respect ?

Admiration ?

Perhaps .

But it is far more likely they will feel envy , which can quickly morph into rancor and hostility .

Worse yet , they may not even be consciously aware of these feelings .

This petty reasoning is widespread and often triggers the bitterest emotions of hatred and resentment .

If you're watching this video , chances are you've witnessed someone exhibiting this mindset , or been dismissed for your intelligence , likely in school or at work .

In such situations , the intelligent person hasn't done anything wrong , they've merely forgotten to pretend to be foolish , leading the other person to realize their own intellectual limitations .

This realization stirs envy , which in turn fosters anger , even if only subconsciously .

The same psychology applies when we feel envy towards someone who is significantly wealthy .

It doesn't matter if that person worked hard for their wealth .

The perception is that they possess something we don't .

The same applies to intelligence , which is often viewed as something its possessor has no right to boast about , so what can be done ?

Schopenhauer suggests that sometimes the best path is to pretend to be less than we truly are , It's not about diminishing ourselves , don't get confused , but about self preservation .

This idea isn't unique to Schopenhauer .

Balthasar Gracian , in his work , the art of worldly wisdom , advises , to be well liked , one must don the guise of the simplest of animals .

The art of worldly wisdom is a short but excellent book that I highly recommend reading .

You'll find the link in the video description if you're interested .

Schopenhauer learned the hard way to adopt the lesson of feigning foolishness .

Look at the letter his mother sent him when he was only 19 .

All your good qualities are overshadowed by your super intelligence , and rendered useless to the world merely because of your anger at wanting to know everything better than others , to improve and dominate what you cannot control .

With this , you embittered those around you .

The relationship between Schopenhauer and his mother deserves a video of its own .

If many of you request it in the comments , I'll make one for you .

Now , I leave you with Schopenhauer's final words on pretending to be foolish .

These observations apply not only to advancement in political life , but to all competition for positions of honor and dignity , and even for reputation in the worlds of science , literature , and art .

In learned societies , for instance , mediocrity , this very acceptable quality , is always at the forefront , while true merit receives belated recognition , or none at all .

That's it for now , folks .

If you're intrigued by Schopenhauer's practical advice , don't miss our video on why geniuses are often perceived as lazy , and , of course , if you enjoyed this content , leave a like and comment below .

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See you next time .