A wise man in the company of those who are ignorant, has been compared to a beautiful girl in the company of blind men.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
A man may live long, and die at last in ignorance of many truths, which his mind was capable of knowing, and that with certainty.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The only thing that costs more money than education is ignorance.
—Unknown
All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Every true genius is bound to be naive.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
I learn by going where I have to go.
—Theodore Roethke (1908–63) American Poet
It is not ignorance but knowledge which is the mother of wonder.
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American Writer, Critic, Naturalist
What you don’t know can’t hurt you.
—Common Proverb
Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Light travels faster than sound. That’s why most people seem bright until you hear them speak.
—Unknown
He was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages; so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
History shows that there is nothing so easy to enslave and nothing so hard to emancipate as ignorance, hence it becomes the double enemy of civilization. By its servility it is the prey of tyranny, and by its credulity it is the foe of enlightenment.
—Lemuel K. Washburn (1846–1927) American Freethought Writer
The reason there’s so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it.
—Frank A. Clark
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart?
—Unknown
To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of ignorance.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
Everybody is ignorant—only on different subjects.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
I don’t know what humor is.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
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
A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Your ignorance cramps my conversation.
—Anthony Hope (1863–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
In the battle for survival the ignorant man has a considerable advantage.
—Unknown
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
Better be unborn than untaught, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
He that does not know those things which are of use and necessity for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides.
—John Tillotson
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
People think the Beatles know what’s going on. We don’t. We’re just doing it.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
I would prefer as a friend a good man who is ignorant than one more clever who is evil, too.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.
—John Tillotson
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