《The Psychology of Stupidity》愚蠢的心理学摘引

In another area studied widely by scientists, idiots have been found to employ an exceptionally wide range of strategies to shore up their self-esteem. Studies on bias and false consensus demonstrate that people tend to exaggerate the number of other people who share their faults. This is why, when you point out to some jerk that he has blown past a stop sign, he will retort, “But nobody stops at this sign!”

What is an asshole? Its a man, or more rarely a woman, who accords himself special advantages in his social life and feels immune from reproach. The typical example is the asshole who cuts in line at the post office, granting himself a privilege thats normally reserved for pregnant women and emergencies. In the moment, he has no justification beyond feeling that hes rich, handsome, or smarter than everyone else, so his time is more valuable than theirs. If you ask him to stand in line like everyone else, either he wont listen or hell tell you to get lost. Its not that he despises other people; rather, its that he doesnt think they deserve his attention. The moment that you dont understand how extraordinary he is, he decides youre unworthy of his interest.

Donald Trump is a supreme asshole, an überasshole, if you like. I mean by that, that hes an asshole who inspires respect and admiration for his mastery of the art of assholery, despite heavy competition from his peers. Assholes generally have to fight for the title of "asshole-in-chief" or "baron" of assholes, but few can match Trumps prowess at piling assholery upon assholery.