I have a sense of humor; but over the years that sense has developed one blind spot. I can no longer laugh at ignorance or stupidity. Those are our chief enemies, and it is dangerous to make fun of them.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing ignorance as a serious issue, rather than simply a subject for humor.
Charles Francis Richter highlights the evolution of his sense of humor over the years, noting that while he still enjoys laughter, he has developed a critical view towards ignorance and stupidity. He suggests that mocking these traits can be dangerous because they are significant societal problems that demand awareness and understanding rather than ridicule.
In practice
During a speech about critical thinking, this quote can highlight the risks of ignoring ignorance.
Magnitude may be compared to the power output in kilowatts of a [radio] broadcasting station; local intensity, on the Mercalli or similar scale, is then comparable to the signal strength noted on a receiver at a given locality. Intensity, like signal strength, will generally fall off with distance from the source; it will also depend on local conditions at the point of observation, and to some extent on the conditions along the path from source to that point.
Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a long period of time.
Only fools, liars, and charlatans predict earthquakes
The difference between comedians and the general public is that we are meant to be funnier. And when you've got politicians giving material so easy that the general public is doing it, what is the necessity of us anymore?
Indigestion is charged by God with enforcing morality on the stomach.
Use the word 'zeitgeist' as often as possible. Ideally, you want to find words that sound familiar but people don't really know their definitions: 'zeitgeist,' 'bildungsroman,' 'doppelganger' - better yet, anything Latin. But avoid 'paradigm.' It's so 1994. If you say the word 'paradigm,' everybody knows you're a poser.
I would tell myself that I was about to address the largest mass assembly of idiots ever gathered in the history of mankind.
I adore political parties. They are the only place left to us where people don't talk politics.
The trouble with law is lawyers.
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