A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
—Saul Bellow (1915–2005) Canadian-American Novelist
The only thing that costs more money than education is ignorance.
—Unknown
Mystery is but another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Never forget public ignorance is the government’s best friend.
—Unknown
Fear always springs from ignorance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Great things are accomplished by those who do not feel the impotence of man. This … is a precious gift.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, Poet
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of.
—Clarence Darrow (1857–1938) American Civil Liberties Lawyer
Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
—Thucydides (c.455?c.400 BCE) Greek Historian
Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
Most ignorance is vincible ignorance.We don’t know because we don’t want to know.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
By ignorance is pride increased; those most assume who know the least.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Ignorance seldom vaults into knowledge, but passes into it through an intermediate state of obscurity, even as night into day through twilight.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Ignorance is not innocence but sin.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
It’s innocence when it charms us, ignorance when it doesn’t.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
What you don’t know can’t hurt you.
—Common Proverb
Your ignorance cramps my conversation.
—Anthony Hope (1863–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
—William Hutchinson Murray (1913–96) Scottish Mountaineer
Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.
—John Tillotson
Ignorance is never out of style. It was in fashion yesterday, it is the rage today and it will set the pace tomorrow.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.
—Wernher von Braun (1912–77) German-born American Engineer, Scientist
One learns by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
Better to be ignorant of a matter than half know it.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
We cannot be saved until we have risen above all our enemies, not the least of which is ignorance.
—Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) American Religious Leader
Dare to be naive.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) English Naturalist
Where there is an unknowable, there is a promise.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Ignorance of one’s misfortunes is clear gain.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist