a little bit dumb in a world of staggeringly stupid people

Now this reminds me exactly of a passage in Socrates' Apology... specifically

"I am better off than he is - for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know."

and

"they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters, and this defect in them overshadowed their wisdom - therefore I asked myself on behalf of the oracle, whether I would like to be as I was, neither having their knowledge nor their ignorance, or like them in both; and I made answer to myself and the oracle that I was better off as I was."

The full passage, which is way too long to post in a comment
begins with
"Chaerephon, as you know, was very impetuous in all his doings, and he went to Delphi and boldly asked the oracle to tell him whether - as I was saying, I must beg you not to interrupt - he asked the oracle to tell him whether there was anyone wiser than I was, and the Pythian prophetess answered that there was no man wiser. Chaerephon is dead himself, but his brother, who is in court, will confirm the truth of this story."

and ends with
"And yet I know that this plainness of speech makes them hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth? - this is the occasion and reason of their slander of me, as you will find out either in this or in any future inquiry."


But I highly recommend the rest of the Apology (http://www.saliu.com/socrates.html), as well. Most edifying reading.