Here are two related quotes that resurfaced in my life today (well, one did and that always makes me think of the second):

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

-Hanlon’s Razor

The related quote tracks the famous Clarke’s [Third] Law:

Sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from malice.

-Grey’s Law

I love science fiction authors. This stuff never shows up in the literary section.