But when a thing is tangibly idiotic, you can be sure that it is very powerful, very dangerous. You see, when we call a thing stupid, we think that we undo it, that we have overcome it somehow. Of course nothing of the sort happens; we have simply made a statement that it is very important, have advertised it, and it appeals to everybody. People think, thank heaven, here is something we can understand, and they eat it. But if we say something is very intelligent, they vanish and won't touch it.
In this excerpt, C.G. Jung discusses the paradox of how society reacts to ideas deemed 'stupid' versus those considered 'intelligent.' He suggests that labeling something as idiotic can actually enhance its power and reach, making it more appealing to the masses. This tendency to embrace simple-minded concepts often leads to their proliferation, as people feel they can easily grasp them, inadvertently increasing their significance in discourse.
Conversely, Jung points out that when ideas are labeled as intelligent, they tend to intimidate or repel people, causing them to shy away. This reveals a bias towards simplicity in thought, where complex or profound ideas struggle to gain acceptance. Thus, Jung underscores a critical observation about cultural consumption: that the allure of simplicity often overshadows the depth of intelligence, shaping societal beliefs and behaviors.
