Even if we accept, as the basic tenet of true democracy, that one moron is equal to one genius, is it necessary to go a further step and hold that two morons are better than one genius?

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist

The Voice of the Dolphins and Other Stories (1961)

Variant: "I’m all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius." In "Some Szilardisms on War, Fame, Peace", LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)