Is Ignorance Bliss or a Curse? (With Ironclad Quotes)
“In a sense, words are encyclopedias of ignorance because they freeze perceptions at one moment in history and then insist we continue to use these frozen perceptions when we should be doing better” — Edward de Bono
How do you feel about this quote?
What do you think about it?
Are these words going to be “frozen perceptions” of this specific moment in time?
I feel that this quote is an excellent description of ignorance in the context of time and words. While I agree that words are forever “frozen,” I think that words go through many incarnations of creation, freezing, and defrosting/unfreezing.
As I write, I am freezing my words in one moment in history.
But, I will continue writing because I want to create, freeze, and “unfreeze” many more words.
Words are the sturdiest elements upon which we build opinions, meanings and definitions. They are impenetrable guardians of our minds. They are also ignorant if frozen.
So, what will happen if you unfreeze ignorance?
Will you be blissful or cursed?
The Origins
Thomas Gray’s 1742 poem “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College” is considered as an origin of the “Ignorance is bliss” quote. The actual quote goes: “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.” Simply saying; You are better of not knowing.
Both Oxford and Meriem-Webster dictionaries define Ignorance as a lack of knowledge or information. Every major religion agrees with such a definition. The quick wordplay in the previous two sentences would be: What is religious Ignorance? (Topic by itself, not now)
The concept of Ignorance has been one of the most curious ones throughout history. The simple task of reformatting its definition and meaning opens up a completely new perspective. You see life through different lenses.
Some of the brightest human minds may help us understand through their quotes.
5 Ironclad Quotes That Exemplify Ignorance Is Bliss
“Ignorance is always afraid of change” Jawaharlal Nehru
Comfort is one of the luxuries of modern society. Being in the comfort zone is safe, secure and soothing for many people who are fearful and anxious about change. Even in its worst state, the comfort zone is better than change.
“Living is easy with eyes closed” John Lennon
What you don’t see, you don’t know. All you know is what you have seen. Ignore the rest and feel the bliss. In some circumstances, it is better not to see. What you don’t know, you can feel somehow.
“Information is not knowledge” Albert Einstein
Should you ignore the news and media? Try it for a few days and see how it feels. If you feel blissful, then Einstein was right again. I agree with him. Information is the cheapest commodity these days and the right information is like looking for a piece of gold in a muddy river.
“Be so good they can’t ignore you” Steve Martin
Life is full of challenges and failures. This particular quote requires reverse-thinking. By overcoming challenges and failures, you build immunity against them and the bliss comes when you reach the ability to ignore obstacles.
“Children’s talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives” Maya Angelou
Children are little wonders of the world. Their naivety and carte-blanche attitude affords them to be intuitively ignorant of unnecessary adult problems. We can always learn from children. Always stay a child somewhere in your heart.
5 Ironclad Examples That Signify Ignorance Is a Curse
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity” Martin Luther King
Collective societal ignorance is extremely dangerous when facing human rights. History is filled with horror stories about humans acting against each other, often because the truth has been ignored. Our hearts and minds must have no ignorance of each other’s rights. We must learn from history. Yet, we fail too many times.
“Science is the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance” Hippocrates
How accurate is this quote in the present from a man born in 460 BC? The fact that we use computers and smartphones validates science as supreme human knowledge, and still, certain people argue its validity, while using computers and smartphones. Hence, they are often called “Hypocrites.”
“Where there are charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance” Francis of Assisi
Fear or ignorance can’t transpire in pure forms of humanity such as charity and wisdom The purity always negates obstruction. Innate feelings of doing good deeds fortified by acquired knowledge cannot be ignored or harmful.
“The Fifth Freedom is a freedom from Ignorance” Lyndon B. Johnson
Ignorance limits and constraints when left unchecked. LBJ’s call for universal freedoms to speak, to worship, from fear and want, also mandate that we are free from ignorance. Or else, we are trapped and our freedom is limited.
“Ignorance is not too dangerous. If you combine it with power, then this is a toxic mix” Yuval Noah Harrari
Countless wars have been fought without any reasonable explanation, only by using ignorance and submission as its fuel. It is a menace for humankind and our habitat to be led by ignorant people who hold power and leverage over the ignored and powerless. The system of testing leaders for an ignorance — power relationship needs to be urgently developed.
In current times, I would perceive Ignorance as a new reality. The choice is ours whether to ignore or not ignore. Let’s look at an example of social media.
You can describe social media as a global pandemic, much worse than Covid — 19. Created with a mission to connect and unite, it metastasizes often into opposites — division and disconnect.
I ignore its curse to filter out its bliss.
