“Wisdom is not additive; its maximum is that of the wisest man in a given group.”

— Robert A. Heinlein , book Glory Road

Glory Road (1963)
Context: Democracy can't work. Mathematicians, peasants, and animals, that's all there is — so democracy, a theory based on the assumption that mathematicians and peasants are equal, can never work. Wisdom is not additive; its maximum is that of the wisest man in a given group.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Wisdom is not additive; its maximum is that of the wisest man in a given group." by Robert A. Heinlein?

Robert A. Heinlein 557

American science fiction author 1907–1988

Related quotes

“There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.”

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and author

“Minimum information given with maximum politeness.”

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994) public figure, First Lady to 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy

Instructions to press secretary Pamela Turnure; Quoted in A Hero for Our Time (1983) by Ralph G Martin; sometimes rendered : "I want minimum information given with maximum politeness."

“The policy of wisdom is to use that method which involves a minimum of suffering, and which offers a maximum of redemption.”

Kirby Page (1890–1957) American clergyman

The Personality of Jesus (1932)
Context: None of the three ways of dealing with social injustice can entirely prevent or remove human suffering. Resistance by violence tends to increase and intensify suffering; inaction or failure to exert effective restraint perpetuates the misery of the victims of crime or exploitation; non-violent coercion likewise often results in suffering. The policy of wisdom is to use that method which involves a minimum of suffering, and which offers a maximum of redemption.