Let’s be clear from the start: Scott Adams was a deeply flawed individual. Despite achieving remarkable success as the creator of the beloved comic strip Dilbert, his career imploded in the 2020s after he publicly espoused abhorrent views about people of color, specifically Black people. This resulted in widespread condemnation and the immediate cancellation of Dilbert from numerous newspapers, leading even its distributor, Andrews McMeel Syndication, to sever ties. In 2025, Adams announced a Stage IV prostate cancer diagnosis, ultimately passing away in January 2026.
Had he remained silent about his hateful views for just a few more years, we might never have known the extent of his prejudice. However, I believe it’s ultimately beneficial that he revealed his true nature before his death, preventing him from being remembered as anything other than what he was: a bigot. Nevertheless, it’s important to acknowledge Adams’ undeniable success.
Dilbert ran for an impressive 24 years, from 1999 to 2023, producing over 12,000 comic strips. At its peak, Dilbert graced the pages of more than 2,000 newspapers worldwide. The comic also spawned a vast array of merchandise and even a short-lived animated series (which was surprisingly good, but that’s another story). Its enduring appeal stemmed from its ability to perfectly capture the frustrations of corporate life in a way that resonated with audiences, much like Mike Judge’s 1999 film Office Space and the British and American versions of The Office.
Recently, Polygon embarked on a project to identify the best quotes and panels from some of history’s greatest comic strips, including classics like Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, and The Far Side. While I still find Adams’ personal views reprehensible, I was curious if it would be possible to pinpoint the “best” Dilbert quote – one that speaks to the comic’s enduring success, separate from the creator’s problematic behavior. Was such a thing even possible?
I have to admit, this search wasn’t as enjoyable as my explorations of other iconic strips. Revisiting Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side brought pure joy. But with Dilbert, it was difficult to separate the art from the artist.
I wanted a quote that encapsulated Dilbert’s core cynicism, particularly the frustrations of working alongside colleagues, especially when one feels intellectually superior to those around them and certainly to their superiors. There were many contenders, such as: “Leadership is the art of trading imaginary things in the future for real things today.”
“The key to happiness is self-delusion” is another strong contender.
Ultimately, my favorite quote was: “As you gain experience, you’ll realize that all logical questions are considered insubordination.”
However, regardless of how funny and well-written these quotes are, and how effectively they capture the corporate frustrations that made Adams’ creation famous, I believe the “best” Dilbert quote should also serve as a rebuke of Adams’ hateful viewpoints. Therefore, I nominate this as the best Dilbert quote:
“When did ignorance become a point of view?”
There may be other excellent Dilbert quotes out there, but I’m drawing a line here for now. The legacy of Dilbert is complicated, and it’s important to remember both its brilliance and the darkness that surrounded its creation.
Comments
Be the first to comment.