Stupidity vs Malice: and the Future of Dentistry

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and resistance figure, once observed:
 “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. Stupidity, not evil, is the greater threat. Not because it’s more powerful, but because stupidity is unreachable. You can expose evil, you can argue with it, you can shine a light on it, you can resist it, but stupidity just does not respond. It does not engage. It just is, and it spreads.”

Though written in the context of political oppression, Bonhoeffer’s words resonate profoundly within dentistry today. The challenges our profession faces—insurance restrictions, reimbursement struggles, regulatory burdens—are not merely fueled by malice or greed. More often, they are perpetuated by what Bonhoeffer described: a surrender of independent thought and discernment.

In this article, we will examine how Bonhoeffer’s warning applies to dentistry, dental insurance, dental association leadership, and dental teams. More importantly, we will explore how liberation—not simply instruction—is the only antidote.