It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though limits to our abilities do not exist.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Paleontologist
To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of ignorance.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
I learn by going where I have to go.
—Theodore Roethke (1908–63) American Poet
There are many who talk on from ignorance rather than from knowledge, and who find the former an inexhaustible fund of conversation.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
For my part I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
—Thucydides (c.455?c.400 BCE) Greek Historian
The only thing that costs more money than education is ignorance.
—Unknown
A man profits more by the sight of an idiot than by the orations of the learned.
—Arabic Proverb
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
To be proud of learning is the greatest ignorance.
—Jeremy Taylor
There is no darkness, but ignorance.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
Beware of ignorance when in motion; look out for inexperience when in action, and beware of the majority when mentally poisoned with misinformation, for collective ignorance does not become wisdom.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
In the battle for survival the ignorant man has a considerable advantage.
—Unknown
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
There is no slight danger from general ignorance; and the only choice which Providence has graciously left to a vicious government is either to fall by the people, if they are suffered to become enlightened, or with them, if they are kept enslaved and ignorant.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
When we are not sure, we are alive.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Ignorance, which in behavior mitigates a fault, is, in literature, a capital offence.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible—and achieve it, generation after generation.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
—Saul Bellow (1915–2005) Canadian-American Novelist
A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Ignorance doesn’t kill you, but it makes you sweat a lot.
—Haitian Proverb
The pleasures of ignorance are as great, in their way, as the pleasures of knowledge.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
It is not ignorance but knowledge which is the mother of wonder.
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American Writer, Critic, Naturalist
Ignorance is not bliss—ignorance is ignorance.
—Unknown
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modem world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t there more happy people?
—Unknown