Stupid is as Stupid Does
The phrase “Stupid is as stupid does” was popularized by the character Forrest Gump in the 1994 namesake movie Forrest Gump. The main character used it to highlight an important principle in assessing people: judge people by their actions rather than labels or preconceived notions. The adage underscores the idea that what people do matters more than what they say or how they are perceived.
Figure 1 – Tom Hanks played the character Forest Gump.
The saying “Stupid is as stupid does” implies that intelligence or wisdom is not determined by how smart someone appears to be (certificates, scholarly accolades, academic degrees) or claims to be but rather by their actions. It suggests that a person’s behavior reflects or reveals their true level of understanding, judgment, or intelligence.
In essence, someone who consistently makes foolish or poor decisions, regardless of their potential or background, can be considered “stupid” because their actions define them. Conversely, a person might not be formally educated or considered traditionally smart but can display wisdom and intelligence through thoughtful or effective actions.
We can generalize this saying: The person is as the person does. In other words, the true character of the person is conveyed by their conduct. Jesus put it this way:
You will know [people] by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. — Matthew 7:16-18 (NKJV)
In His grip by His grace,
Roderick L. Barnes, Sr.