Reason #5: Even the Smartest Scholars Say Stupid Stuff

Yea, I know. More alliteration. I should be an English teacher, or one of those annoying people who mass-produce cheap novels. (You know, penny-dreadfuls. Oh. You don’t know. Well look it up: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/penny-dreadful )

Anyways, enough digression. The point of this post: since highly ridiculous things make me laugh, here is a list of some of the most overconfident quotes ever!

Kenneth Olsen, President and Founder of Digital Equipment Corporation

“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.”

1977

Decca Records

“We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out.”

When Rejecting The Beatles, 1962

Ptolemy, Egyptian Astronomer

“The earth is the center of the  universe.”

Second Century

And my personal favorite:

King George III

“Nothing of importance happened today.”

July 4, 1776

Well at least he could plead insanity. Oh actually, he only went insane in the 19th Century!!!! So..I guess there’s no excuse. =)

Okay, now let me just add some closing comments so you don’t think I made this post just to laugh at people. (Although that is part of the reason.)

In Psychology, which I am taking, we learn about overconfidence. Overconfidence is greater confidence than circumstances warrant. Overconfidence is believing something without enough proof. Overconfidence is making statements because you assume the way things are, or seem to be, is the way they always will be.

Overconfidence is embarrassing. But when confident people are overconfident….they just smile about it.

(In theory this would occur after they have acknowledged their mistake and only if their overconfidence was harmless.)

Smile!!!!

And if you want to: Share some of your overconfident moments!