The imbecility of men, history teaches us, always invites the impudence of power. But disliking stupidity and imbecility, I don't manage to keep my mouth shut. The villagers feigned imbecility when the royal messengers arrived. A newspaper report at the time blamed the situation on Childs' "utter imbecility". The meaning was further refined into mental and moral imbecility. This betrothal was terminated because of the imbecility of Henry. Action, without thought, is imbecility of mind, and cannot therefore be either meritorious or criminal. Some of these exempting circumstances are imbecility or youth. Aranya cures Masterson from drug-induced imbecility, hoping to recruit him. Goldstein carries unworldliness to the point of imbecility.