diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 4e9c40297d..3b2c0bf335 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -173,10 +173,6 @@ def nothing(*arg):
 # using the given strftime format.
 html_last_updated_fmt = '%b %d, %Y'
 
-# If true, SmartyPants will be used to convert quotes and dashes to
-# typographically correct entities.
-html_use_smartypants = False # people use cutnpaste in some places
-
 # Output file base name for HTML help builder.
 htmlhelp_basename = 'pyramid'