With all due respect, I am against dumb.

Hear the sharp and memorable words of John F. Kennedy: “With all due respect, I am against dumb.” Though spoken with brevity and wit, these words carry the weight of timeless wisdom. For Kennedy reminds us that folly is not to be excused, and ignorance, when it parades as wisdom, must be resisted. His statement is not a dismissal of people, but a call to reject shortsightedness, laziness of thought, and reckless decision-making. It is an appeal to rise above mediocrity, to wield intelligence, reason, and foresight in all matters of life and governance.

The ancients knew this truth. The Greeks despised hubris—the arrogance that blinded men from truth. Socrates declared that the beginning of wisdom was to admit ignorance, but he never glorified ignorance itself. To be willfully blind, to refuse learning, to embrace dumb choices, was to walk the path of ruin. Kennedy’s words breathe the same spirit: it is not enough to show respect in manners and speech—one must also stand firm against decisions and actions that insult reason.

Consider the story of the Trojan Horse. The Trojans, warned by Cassandra and Laocoön not to trust the wooden gift, nevertheless ignored wisdom and gave in to folly. That one act of collective dumb—to reject reason in favor of vanity—brought about the fall of Troy. So it is in nations and in lives: when dumb choices are tolerated, disaster follows. Kennedy’s remark reflects the eternal truth that leaders, and indeed all people, must never give respect to foolishness simply to avoid offense.

History gives us another example in Winston Churchill. In the years before World War II, many leaders clung to appeasement, choosing to ignore the growing threat of tyranny. Churchill, however, stood “against dumb,” speaking warnings even when they were unwelcome. In the end, his clarity and refusal to embrace foolish policies saved Britain from annihilation. Kennedy’s phrase, though sharp, holds the same essence: wisdom requires courage to say no to folly, even when wrapped in politeness or tradition.

The meaning of Kennedy’s words is also personal. Each of us encounters moments when foolishness tempts us: to take the easy path, to ignore what we know to be true, to make choices that satisfy comfort but betray reason. To be “against dumb” is to commit to living thoughtfully, to seek wisdom in action, to resist the pull of carelessness. It is to hold oneself to the higher standard, and to walk in integrity even when it is difficult.

The lesson here is clear and powerful: do not confuse courtesy with compliance. Show respect to others, yes, but do not surrender to foolishness in the name of politeness. Stand firm for truth, for reason, for intelligence. Challenge poor ideas when they arise. Teach children that to think, to question, to seek wisdom, is greater than to follow blindly. A society that honors truth thrives; a society that tolerates folly crumbles.

What, then, shall we do? Let us cultivate wisdom through study, reflection, and listening. Let us honor those who speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Let us be vigilant in our own decisions, asking: does this path honor reason, or does it bow to folly? By practicing these things, we keep ourselves, our communities, and our nations safe from the destruction that comes when dumb is given power.

Therefore, O listener, carry this sharp truth in your heart: “With all due respect, I am against dumb.” Let it be your shield against careless choices and shallow thinking. Let it remind you that wisdom is the greatest treasure, and folly the greatest thief. And when you face the crossroads of decision, may you always choose the path of clarity, courage, and reason—standing firmly, as Kennedy did, against all that is foolish.