Herbert Spencer

Who indeed, after pulling off the coloured glasses of prejudice and thrusting out of sight his pet projects, can help seeing the folly of these endeavours to protect men against themselves? A sad population of imbeciles would our schemers fill the world with, could their plans last.

English Philosopher

C. S. Lewis

If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.

British Writer

Jeanne Moreau

Some children I have met are very beautiful. Some children are imbeciles, vulgar, terrible.

French Actress

Alexandre Dumas

I prefer rogues to imbeciles, because they sometimes take a rest.

French Dramatist

Amanda Peet

I'm technologically an imbecile. But I do use the camera phone!

American Actress

Warren Cuccurullo

The turning point really is just knowing you're an imbecile.

American Musician

Albert Schweitzer

Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.

German Theologian

Matteo Salvini

Anti-Semites are imbeciles and delinquents.

Italian Politician

Matthew Williamson

British Designer

Camillo di Cavour

Italian Statesman

Used casually among friends, but it can be very hurtful and offensive if used improperly.

Informal Use

Conveys a strong negative feeling about someone's behavior or intelligence.

Negative Connotation

Inappropriate in formal or polite contexts such as work, school, or when speaking with strangers.

Avoid in Formality

No longer used in medical contexts; considered offensive and disrespectful.

Obsolete Medical

Shows how words can evolve over time and gain negative implications; avoid using in modern context.

Cultural Insensitivity

Highlights a single act or pattern of actions, not the person's overall intelligence.

Describes Behavior

While negative, it's often less harsh than other insults and can be used humorously among friends.

Mild Insult

 they can potentially kill a person so I basically covered myself with plastic and I imbecile enveloped my legs with plastic and my assistant who is a part-time male stripper from Panama was quite a character he was a big meaty guy who could who was

Interview: Mark Moffett...

 And that is how my mother came into this world. But the amazing thing is, even though my mother's own grandmother could not vote in Texas, because under Texas law, "idiots, imbeciles, the insane and women"

Imbecile