QI Quite Interesting - Pleasure in Knowledge (Outtake)

[demonliberal]

Is it possible to say "Stephen Fry - what a boring insufferable twat" without being set upon by the Arbeit Macht Fry brigade?

[Gubbywubby]

@demonliberal Nope!

[slightlyinsaneFTW]

I'm still in school, taking geometry and latin (as well as others), but it really doesn't bother me when people ask what's the point..

[verticalsmurf]

I'm doing well and I haven't used a single thing I learned from school. Except that they got me interested in thinking and I learned to read and write, basic math, patience, perseverence, compassion and just to be interested in something and to be curious. That last one has served me better than any other. I guess that is the reason for school. To get your brain wired to be able to think, to understand discipline and to get you to be curious about something.

[R3M1T]

@verticalsmurf You've identified the biggest problem with the education system. Instead of being taught how to pass exams, with the implication that education is merely a stepping stone for financial reward, more emphasis should be placed upon the love of learning and the intrinsic value of knowledge.

[snuffle1]

Stephen really got worked up on that one.

[thunderchops]

I love Latin and Greek and often have long arguments with other learned friends over etymology, physics, and philosophy. But I'm still a raging alcoholic, a love of knowledge doesn't always keep you from being a complete fuck up.

[seangibbs6]

Such a perfectly timed curse word.

[KittyKatEvans]

@johndoe43210 i think you'll find its Oxbridge

[KapStuf]

@johndoe43210 "oxenbridge"

[Facepalm]

You do realise, inverted snobbery is a form of snobbery?

[CoffeeOnMars]

I have a job and a degree, but still can't get the point of Latin.

[ErGravit1]

@CoffeeOnMars There are always exceptions. However, just because you do it, does not make it a rule.

[Nerdovich]

@CoffeeOnMars I have a degree and know Latin, but have no job, lol.

[resurge]

how do you compliment a 35 degree angle?

you're looking acute today.

[Shotmaker91]

Be careful, people.

Stephen's not saying it's wrong to INQUIRE about the "point" of whatever it is you're learning. He means that it's wrong to NOT SEE the point, or be uninterested.

No fact or understanding is valuable for its own purpose. If you believe that it is, that "value" is probably an ego boost.

Jo Brand was not really in the wrong here. Asking "what are the implications of this fact?" is not only a legitimate question, but a vitally important one if you truly want to understand.

[publictelevisi0n]

why was this taken out? one of the shows best clips

[dafrenchie94]

Wit beyond measure, is a man's greatest pleasure :)

[BadWolfRose2007]

@dafrenchie94 Hello fellow Ravenclaw xD

[weirdlightsaber44]

@dafrenchie94 GO RAVENCLAW!

[edard101]

@weirdlightsaber44 Huzzah for Ravenclaw indeed :P

[SkrateBeastin]

I know what the point of geometry is.

It's somewhere between 0 and 180 degrees.

[EVLWNS]

He's right you know. Most of the dickheads I knew in school who were like that are either dead from drug abuse, or on their way.

Still, no great loss.

[tykittaa]

I just want that t-shirt Bill Bailey is wearing.

[mertz123]

what's the POINT of this video!!!!!!

[thesteveus]

I love it when Stephen Fry swears, it just sounds so right

[IcEye89]

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but we may never know whether what it learned due to that curiosity was worth dying for.

[akariasking]

Stephen Fry is one of my favourite people.

[MrTerryKay]

Brilliant rant. I wish Stephen would do more of these.

Just when you thought you were safe, it's Arnie Wilde!

[TheAntman2006]

il admit algebra was something i never ever paid attention to..and its never come up since

[wahaya2]

@TheAntman2006 But if you were a civil engineer or a physicist, it would have done...the point is that just because you've never seen any real world application of a given field of study, it a) does not mean that there is no application for that field of study, and b) CERTAINLY does not mean that that particular field of study is not worthwhile.

Humans are innately curious. It is in our nature to explore and study things that may not be directly obvious. That is something to be celebrated.

[TheAntman2006]

@wahaya2 i agree

[sanbilge]

@TheAntman2006 Oh please, even addition and multiplication (if you can remember those -- 2*2=4 etc) are under the broad branch of algebra. I'd understand if history lessons did not contribute to your life, which means you are not a curious person, but if algebra has not come up in your life, I wish you good luck in counting your change, which you claim you do not or cannot do.

[TheAntman2006]

@sanbilge dont be pedantic theres a difference between simple multiplication and the kind of algebra im referring to..

[Mangosuxcok]

@TheAntman2006 algebra is not necessarily the skill you are being taught, algebra is all about logical thinking and I would hope you can appreciate how logical thinking helps you in everyday life

[orlock20]

@Mangosuxcok, algebra is used all the time in computer programing. I believe the most commonly used algebraic formulas in computer programing are used in those financial calculators.

[IoEstasCedonta]

@TheAntman2006 If more people knew "the kind of algebra" you're referring to, and beyond, maybe political commentators wouldn't be constantly talking down to us and arguing from emotion and solidarity rather than relayed or incomprehensible facts, and maybe we could fix a few fucking things in this world.

[The24thDane]

@sanbilge Actually, I think you'll find you're referring to arithmetic.

[LittlPussi]

Yes Mr. Fry! Hahaha!

[SaxonSpooner]

hahahahahahaha :ove the Fry

[arasforreal]

that0s offensive to philosophers and depressed people

[JapeUK]

I'm studying History, on the 1st day a lecturer talked about the career opportunities it gives. At one point he said there are more Accountants with History degrees than Accountancy degrees. My heart sank. I love History but I want to be a writer, its amazing how many people actually see studying out of passion as wierd or pointless - History gives me so much, and I think is unique in that its a bridge to other things - Arts, Sciences, Literature, its made me think more broadly - so fuck off!

[happyjellyfish]

@JapeUK ...you DO realise that none of that means you can't be a writer or work in academia, right?

[myopium]

He uses the f word quite beautifully here.

[RyanLFC86]

I can think of a time when you can use this information, even if you are an alcoholic/drug fiend, when you are off your tits and in the land of lala random points of fact and useless information are fantastic to have at ones disposal :D

[AfroGannon]

yaha! lovely to hear it and it makes you want to work harder for a day

[DarthRevan1051]

knowledge is power, Strength is just an ally

[neogfx]

Quality, I absolutely LOVE Stephen Fry!

[Gothicgizzmo]

I am doing well at school, I have the highest levels in my class for english and science. But I dont want to use my knowledge for a job..... I want to be a singer/songwriter. I write my own songs and I know I can sing. I am getting more bored with school as I get older, but stephen is right. I do well in class, but its not what I want. I only need to concentrate on english and music for my job. But it is good to learn other skills because you never know what you might need it for.

[kittenbot]

@Gothicgizzmo That's not really what he meant, it was more a nod to the notion that people who care to gather knowledge are more successful because they tend to be more driven, Good luck being a singer songwriter, a passion for knowledge will help you there too, and if you don't think it will just think how much less time you'll need to spend with the rhyming dictionary if your vocabulary is good.

[Gothicgizzmo]

@kittenbot Thanks, yes I like to gather knowledge, and it is good. It is just that I sometimes wonder how certain things will help with what I want to do. But it is good to know things anyway, it helps with things you would never expect. Yea, whenever I hear a word in a song I dont understand I always find it out, because I can use it. I've nearly got my dream, I sent a demo to Gary Barlow and Im just waiting for a reply now.

[rippemies]

Fuck yeah Stephen.

[PsychoHellKat]

I love hearing Stephen swear. It's just... well not funny.... but extremely humorous :D

[sbwpolo14]

this reminds me of a Fry and Laurie sketch, in which Fry's finance minister defends selling England to Honda:

"What about unemployment?"

"OH, WHAT ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT?!?! Every time something comes along that just might do this country a bit of good, it's always 'well what about unemployment?...' Just rejoice, why don't you?"

[Crapulency]

here here

[xXScarletButterflyXx]

Stephen having a rant is the best.

[damechastain]

I love Alan sitting there going, "Stephen - Stephen..." just trying to calm him down.

[TornLoveNotes]

Hehe, me too.

It's like he's his wife (^_^)

[JDLupus]

@damechastain They are a lot like a married couple a lot of the time. We've known them together long enough to be able to see it, too :)

[colosalblack]

hahaha great!

[mooimafish17]

Stephen is great, i do confess i love him quite a lot......

[chrish12345]

For an answer to the question you just have to look at the difference between bland Joe and intelligent Stephen.

[lamestguyintown]

joe is quite funny and witty at times.. but of cos, stephen fry is god .

[mooimafish17]

love the moment with him and Alan, Alan trying (and failing) to real him in

[YukiNagato369]

"reel" him in...

sorry, hair-splitting old me again ^^

[mooimafish17]

your right, my mistake. Stephen would be horrified. :)

[YukiNagato369]

lol ^^

[atomicmrpelly]

What a man!

[mushoo123456]

What does he say 0:32 onwards "Actually going out and what?"

[Otherness]

@mushoo123456 "Actually getting on and doing things with their fucking lives"

[mushoo123456]

Thanks

[smudzi]

I wish that could be my ringtone.

He is fucking right though

[jakamneziak]

i believe that we are here to learn but that we should always bring a somewhat churlish attitude to learning. We are here to question what is known, not accept parrot fashion. That said if you know nothing how can you question it?

[BenPN1000]

People who don't want to learn new things are often tedious and self obsessed.We'd still be living in caves if everyone was like that.

[123Shazzam123]

Why is his comment strange? He didn't mention any political party? :S

[chrisofnottingham]

I think many intellectual lefties acknowledge that the British working class is its own worst enemy with regards to shrugging of all attempts to educate them.

[rockharddieyoung]

Not as a rule though I can understand your point. But I have a friend who is amazing at maths but lazy and a richkid. I come froma backward estate in south london and have always worked hard to change future, plus I love learning. I'm a bit of a biology nut!

[richardmaudsley77]

We don't even have a labour party any more, it's just the conservatives with a flat cap and a bad lancashire accent.

[atomicmrpelly]

Brilliant! Did you know their party conference last year was in Brighton...

[richardmaudsley77]

What an embarrasment! A true labour party would do everything oop north.

[mr0buch]

Stephen... STEPHEN!

[princesskyrie]

They forgot one other reason for learning "quite interesting" facts: beating the tar out of everyone you meet at trivia games. Oh, I'm having fun with that part of being a fact hound... until my friends wise up again and refuse to let me play with them. :-D

Yes, intelligence and knowledge are, and should be, their own reward, but winning trivia games is a nice side perk.

[crazypianolady]

I bet Jo's sorry she ever asked!

[Dantheman199308]

What an amazing man.

And his words are SO true.

[Nobody277]

I'm upset to see students complain about how useless all the knowledge is.I don't need to know a thing on national history/radioactivity/mammals evolution, but has little information (well analysed and categorised) ever killed anyone?While learning we learn to learn.(If only it didn't sound this silly).

[Nobody277]

I love to gain as much knowledge as possible, not to merely memorise incomprehensible definitions and forget them within two hours after an exam, without understanding a word.

And it makes me happy to suddenly realise - hey, I know this machine works and who invented it.I've been told that ignorant attitude comes with age, yet I have observed no signs of it coming in the past fifteen years.

[NTOXN]

PWNED

[atomicpenguin]

So true.

And I love Alan! "Stephe- ste- Stephen!!"

[spoenk]

lol I love him

[CyanideSovereign]

\m/ horns for Fry!

[MemorableGore]

:') made me lol

[smudzi]

he is fucking right.

[geyter6]

They are so in sync Alan actually says "Stephen!" before Stephen says anything to be bleeped.

Gods I do love both of em.

[bu3asalli]

i didn't notice that before you are right i love 'em too

[dexomus23]

Strategic swearing, makes much more of an impact.

[mts280]

Well I don't think it's necessarily about intelligence. High Intelligence is a thing you're born with or not. For me it's what you do with your intelligence what matters. It's about people saying "Why would I want to know that" or things like "I'm too stupid to understand that piece of art" or something. No, you're not to stupid, you're just not INTERESTED. You can be gifted with loads of intelligence and be brilliant at maths or making money but still ignorant. Knowledge is a bit out of fashion

[ImeldaLumos]

Vert true! You punched one of the true thruths. I were speaking about different things though, but I can't disagree with you. People, of the present, have lost interest in many things. When we're naturally, on a daily basis, exposed to wonders and new facts, they have somehow lost their weight. Which is a real pity! Because the World is still interesting... plainly speaking. There are to many people with intelligence, but no ability to apply it in Life. Then it's just facts and words.

[makienxhemmiktar]

exactly. you do not need to be an artist to appreciate fine art just like you do not need to be a chef to enjoy fine food. It is only those who are uninterested in life who get on my nerves - not those who try (successfully or otherwise).

[parrot85]

very true - i'm a medic, i've noticed that people can be remarkably intelligent when they want to be (as well as incredibly dense). most of the public assume they could never understand cancer, but as soon as your average joe is diagnosed, they go home, take time to read about it from loads of different sources and become truely expert in there condition in a very short time, simply because they have the motivation. extreme example i know, but shows what we can all do with the right push.

[wimpylassiter2336]

@ImeldaLumos some girls were making fun of a guy for not cutting classes. i muttered something about them being on welfare.

[hchsband2007]

I agree with Stephen 100 percent!

[Pieter345]

soooo true >_>

altho my gf finds learning japanese to be shit (for me to do it) and that everything that i know that doesnt have to do with metal(music not the fabric >>) to be useless information

should i dump my gf yes or no? im going for yes

[Kverul]

You should show her this clip, then make her repent her ways. If that doesn't work. Dump the bitch.

[Pieter345]

dont call my gf a bitch tho!

[Kverul]

Why not? She sounds like one.

[Pieter345]

dont call her a bitch rshole she might be blonde and dumb shes not a bitch

[Kverul]

Fine. An idiot then. Satisfied?

[Kverul]

And on a sidenote, you don't believe that calling her "Blonde and dumb" is worse than me calling her for a bitch?

[Pieter345]

she is blonde! and shes not very bright but if u call her a BITCH im gonna call u asshole

[spotlitkiss]

lol i'm loving this argument.

[statueofwind]

yeah it really matches the QI intellectual standard, doesn't it.....get on and do something with your fucking lives! hahahaha

[janpetersimonsen]

Is this really an outtake? (where did you get it then? :) just curious ..) thanks

[mts280]

It's from the Series 2 DVD

[Jowellzzz]

So then,

dole and White Star for me.

:P

[alicisabitgoodyeh]

He is TOTALLY right.

As always.

"Thou Shalt Not Question Stephen Fry"

[romanpr1nce]

i totally agree with stephen on this on. :)

[VamLoveAndKisses]

Hahaha! I love it when Alan tries to calm him down and bring him back!

[ELuhn]

Amen, brother. It's always been a lonely life, being intelligent; but during this last election I became thoroughly sick of those people who are actually *proud* of being ignorant, who genuinely believe that being well-spoken and well-read means that there's something wrong with you. Stupidity is not a virtue. Knowing fuck-all and having no opinions other than those spoon-fed to you by intolerant hicks is something to be ashamed of, something to hide from people, not campaign with it.

[NotaFro]

love when he goes off on one

[PheatherP]

I believe he says,

"It's extraordinary. It's always the children who say, 'Sir, sir, what's the point of geometry,' or 'what's the point of latin,' who end up having no job, being alcoholic, and they don't notice that the ones who actually find knowledge for its own sake and pleasure in information and in history and in the world and nature around us actually getting on and doing things with their fucking lives."

[mts280]

Ah, thanks. Wasn't sure about some words

[PheatherP]

No problem!

[wimscheers]

@PheatherP Damn, we should get a group to spam this comment on all YT videos.