Are you happy, Norman?" asked Brant. Well, sure, I guess. That's what I thought," she said bitterly. "Neither am I. - George Alec Effinger

You underestimate the ability of people to act like idiots.

“What do you know about the activities of the brain and the nervous system?”
I laughed. “About as much as any hustler from the Budayeen who can barely read and write his name. I know that the brain is in the head, I’ve heard that it’s a bad idea to let some thug spill it on the sidewalk. Beyond that, I don’t know much.” I did, truthfully, know some more, but I always hold something in reserve. It’s a good policy to be a little quicker, a little stronger, and a little smarter than everybody thinks you are.

Useful! You want to talk about useful? Have you ever read anything about politics? Economics? You know what keeps a culture alive?
Yes," said Ernest sullenly, while M. Gargotier cleaned up the mess. "People not bothering other people.