Who really said it
The exact sentence is sourced to Pratchett’s Hogfather; this research relied on its transcription.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Unconfirmed quote & credit
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time” — Terry Pratchett, Hogfather (1996); sourced transcription, printed page not independently inspected
Can you use it?
Still under copyright (rights held by Terry Pratchett and/or the publisher or estate). A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.
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In context
Evoking the world of Terry Pratchett — English novelist. Theme: "Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
Read the attribution evidenceHow we verified this
The identified twentieth-century work remains in copyright; only a short excerpt is used for identification and criticism.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
The sentence belongs to Hogfather’s comic treatment of thinking and foolishness in a magical world. Reading it as a modern prediction about a particular AI system would add a claim the 1996 novel does not make.
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More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
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The Hogfather section transcribes this exact sentence and cites page 172.
Identifies Hogfather as a 1996 novel by Pratchett; metadata rather than wording evidence.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Hogfather, as transcribed by Wikiquote (1996).
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/real-stupidity-beats-artificial-intelligence-every-time/