"Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance"

William Gaddis' quote can be interpreted in a couple of different methods, however one common understanding is that stupidity is not just mere lack of knowledge or absence of knowledge, however rather a mindful decision to remain ignorant. This might imply that some individuals pick to overlook or decline brand-new information, realities, or perspectives that challenge their beliefs or presumptions, either out of fear, stubbornness, or laziness. By cultivating lack of knowledge, these individuals perpetuate their own lack of knowledge and prevent themselves from improving their understanding of the world. In essence, stupidity is not just an absence of intelligence, however a kind of intellectual self-sabotage.