I believe that people are essentially good. If I didn’t, I’d have trouble getting up in the morning. Experience has taught me, however, that most people are idiots. That makes me want to turn over and go back to sleep.

We’ll have to get up eventually, though. The day is out there waiting for us. And once we’ve had that first cup of coffee, it will be easier to accept that it is possible to be both good and an idiot at the same time. In fact, this might even be the central paradox of human existence, so we’ll just have to live with it.

After a second cup, we can also admit that the wise can also be idiots, and that even the best among us can turn mean-spirited. It is possible, then, that there might be times when everyone will be mean and stupid all at once.

More coffee, anyone?