Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Sociologist, Political Theorist
Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
—Frank Zappa (1940–93) American Rock Guitarist, Singer, Composer
Where there is an unknowable, there is a promise.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate the nearer we come to it.—For what do we truly know, or what can we clearly affirm of any one of those important things upon which all our reasonings must of necessity be built—time and space, life and death, matter and mind.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Sometimes it proves the highest understanding not to understand.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
In the battle for survival the ignorant man has a considerable advantage.
—Unknown
By ignorance is pride increased; those most assume who know the least.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
—Unknown
Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. Genuine ignorance is profitable because it is likely to be accompanied by humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness; whereas ability to repeat catch-phrases, cant terms, familiar propositions, gives the conceit of learning and coats the mind with varnish waterproof to new ideas.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
When Columbus started out he didn’t know where he was going, when he got there he didn’t know where he was, and when he got back he didn’t know where he had been.
—Unknown
A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
When we are not sure, we are alive.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story 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
To write a good love letter you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say, and to finish without knowing what you have written.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
How can we remember our ignorance, which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
It is with nations as with individuals, those who know the least of others think the highest of themselves; for the whole family of pride and ignorance are incestuous, and mutually beget each other.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Ignorance is not privileged by titular degrees
—Latin Proverb
It is harder to conceal ignorance than to acquire knowledge.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
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
Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Nothing in this world can one imagine beforehand, not the least thing. Everything is made up of so many unique particulars that cannot be foreseen.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Every true genius is bound to be naive.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.
—Edgar Degas (1834–1917) French Painter, Sculpture, Printer maker, Artist
That magic of first love is our ignorance that it can ever end.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
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
To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step in knowledge.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Ignorance never settles a question.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The greatest wisdom often consists in ignorance.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.
—Unknown
Ignorance doesn’t kill you, but it makes you sweat a lot.
—Haitian Proverb
There is no darkness, but ignorance.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It is not wisdom but ignorance that teaches men presumption.—Genius may sometimes be arrogant, but nothing is so diffident as knowledge.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
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
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
Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.
—John Tillotson
Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
As if anything were so common as ignorance! The multitude of fools is a protection to the wise.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Nothing is so haughty and assuming as ignorance where self-conceit sets up to be infallible.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
The ignorance of the world leaves one at the mercy of its malice
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Among true and real friends, all is common; and were ignorance and envy and superstition banished from the world, all mankind would be friend.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
If thou art wise thou knowest thine own ignorance; and thou art ignorant if thou knowest not thyself.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
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