“Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German writer, artist, and politician
“Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German writer, artist, and politician
“Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.”
Sophocles (-496–-406 BC) ancient Greek tragedian
“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, …
“Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom.”
Sam Walton (1918–1992) Founder of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club
“Ignorance and bungling with love are better than wisdom and skill without.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) 1817-1862 American poet, essayist, naturalist, and abolitionist
Thomas Kuhn (1922–1996) American historian, physicist and philosopher
"Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?", Criticism and the growth of knowledge edited by Imre Lakatos and Alan Musgrave (1970)
Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763–1798) Irish politician
Letter to Thomas Addis Emmet, William James MacNaven, Arthur O'Connor and John Sweetman (10 November 1798), quoted in T. W. Moody, R. B. McDowell and C. J. Woods (eds.), The Writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone, 1763–98, Volume III: France, the Rhine, Lough Swilly and Death of Tone, January 1797 to November 1798 (2007), p. 402
Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice
History of My Life (trans. Trask 1967), 1997 reprint, Preface, p. 34
Referenced
Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) American economist of the Austrian School, libertarian political theorist, and historian
But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance. <br class="br"> The Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists (1970) http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/rothbard122.html.
“Time is... the expression of our ignorance of the full microstate.”
Carlo Rovelli (1956) Italian physicist
"Forget time" (Aug, 2008)
Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor and futurist
1960s, Presentation to U.S. Congressional Sub-Committee on World Game (1969)
Leopold I of Belgium (1790–1865) German prince who became the first King of the Belgians
Leopold II, The Whole Story https://odysee.com/@BelgianCongo:3/Leopold-II-Het-Hele-Verhaal-Aflevering-1:1 King Leopold I to his son Prince Leopold II.
Justine Greening (1969) British politician
Syria conflict: UK pledges extra £100m https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25743571 BBC News (15 January 2014) <br class="br">2014
Yasir Qadhi (1975) Pakistani-American preacher and imam
Yasir Qadhi https://quotesdownload.com/yasir-qadhi-quotes/
Emma Goldman book Anarchism and Other Essays
Anarchism and Other Essays (1910), The Hypocrisy of Puritanism
Charles Sheffield book Summertide
Source: The Heritage Universe, Summertide (1990), Chapter 5, “Summertide Minus Thirty” (p. 61)
“When a devil, but also a saint, laughs about your poetry, you laugh about his ignorance!”
Menotti Lerro (1980) Italian poet
Donna Giovanna, Act IV, scene iii.
“My ignorance is trying to flatter me that I know everything.”
Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author
“Become tolerant and resist any type of ignorance that is based on dogmas.”
Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author
“Our ignorance of the event saved us all from being judged on Judgment Day.”
Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author
Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) Swiss philosopher
[2007, Spiritual Perspectives and Human Facts, World Wisdom, 80, 978-1-933316-42-0]
Spiritual path, Esoterism
“You are a fool, sir priest. Ignorance may excuse you. It will certainly kill you.”
Judith Tarr (1955) American fantasy writer, historian
Source: Ars Magica (1989), Chapter 2 (p. 18)
“As tempers rose, a compromise was urged by certain moderates, whom everyone ignored.”
Bruce Sterling (1954) American writer, speaker, futurist, and design instructor
Short fiction, The Peak of Eternal Light (2012)
Stephen Jay Gould book An Urchin in the Storm
"Exultation and Explanation", p. 187
An Urchin in the Storm (1987)
Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007) 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan
Source: Daughter of the East : an autobiography
Vera Stanley Alder (1898–1984) British artist
Source: Humanity Comes of Age, A study of Individual and World Fulfillment (1950), Chapter XXXV The Opportunity Today
Jesmyn Ward (1977) American writer
Source: On having a pessimistic nature in “Jesmyn Ward: ‘So much of life is pain and sorrow and wilful ignorance’” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/12/jesmyn-ward-sing-unburied-sing-interview-meet-author in The Guardian (2017 Nov 12)
Lev Shestov (1866–1938) Russian theologian
Source: In Job's Balances: on the sources of the eternal truths, The Conquest of the Self-Evident; Dostoievsky’s Philosophy p. 3
Funmi Falana Nigerian lawyer, women's rights activist
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/12/funmi-falana-tells-nigerians-to-defend-their-human-rights/ Funmi Falana speaks on human right.
Ben Aaronovitch book Whispers Under Ground
Source: Whispers Under Ground (2012), Chapter 21, “Oxford Circus” (p. 224)
book Bible
Source: 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, NKJV
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, …
Written by Henry Stuber as part of a biographical sketch of Franklin appended to a 1793 edition of Franklin's autobiography and sometimes reprinted with it in the 19th century. It is frequently misattributed to Franklin himself.
Misattributed
Phill Kline (1959) American politician
Source: Ask the Attorney: An Interview with Former Kansas Attorney General and Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline http://lifelegalgiving.com/ask-the-attorney-an-interview-with-former-kansas-attorney-general-and-johnson-county-district-attorney-phill-kline/ (1 August 2009)
José Manuel Imbamba (1965) Angolan Roman Catholic archbishop and university teacher
Pope in Angola: Fight superstition https://www.scross.co.za/2009/03/pope-in-angola-fight-superstition/ (21 March 2009)
“Unfortunately for you, ignorance makes a poor shield.”
Jim C. Hines (1974) American writer
Source: The Goblin Quest Series, Goblin Quest (2004), Chapter 17 (p. 306)
John Taylor Gatto (1935–2018) American teacher, book author
Source: "I Quit, I Think" (1991)
John Taylor Gatto (1935–2018) American teacher, book author
Source: "I Quit, I Think" (1991)
Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu monk and phylosopher
Source: Spoken on his return to India from England, as recorded in From Colombo to Almora (1904), p. 221
Sidney Poitier (1927) American-born Bahamian actor, film director, author, and diplomat
Source: Life Beyond Measure (2008), twenty-third letter — The World I Leave You, p. 273
Michel Henry (1922–2002) French writer
Books on Religion and Christianity, I am the Truth. Toward a philosophy of Christianity (1996)
Source: Michel Henry, I am the Truth. Toward a Philosophy of Christianity, translated by Susan Emanuel, Stanford University Press, 2003, p. 9
Michel Henry (1922–2002) French writer
Books on Culture and Barbarism, Seeing the Invisible: On Kandinsky (1988)
Source: Michel Henry, Seeing the invisible: On Kandinsky, Continuum, 2009, p. 107
Tara Westover book Educated
Source: Educated (2018), Chapter 17, “To Keep it Holy” (p. 157; the reference is to the Holocaust)
“Man's knowledge, save before his fellow man,
Is ignorance—his widest wisdom folly.”
Theodore Watts-Dunton (1832–1914) English literary critic and poet
The Coming of Love and Other Poems (1897)
Source: "Prophetic Pictures at Venice VII: New Year's Morning, 1867", p. 207.
Kyūichi Tokuda (1894–1953) Japanese politician
New Situation and the Policy of the Communist Party of Japan (1950)
“The one thing that is more dangerous than true ignorance is the illusion of understanding.”
A. C. Grayling (1949) English philosopher
Source: Life, Sex, and Ideas: The Good Life Without God (2002), Chapter 57, “Becoming Philosophical” (p. 226)
J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) Anglican bishop
"John Hooper: Bishop and Martyr", p. 70
Light from Old Times (1890)
“Ignorance of Scripture is the root of every error in religion, and the source of every heresy.”
J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) Anglican bishop
Vol. I, Preface, p. xiii
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: St. John (1865–1873)
“Ignore the normal people, who knows what they’re thinking.”
Josh Duffy (1978) Subject of the documentary THE MAYOR
Film Quotes
“If ignorance is bliss, then I’m a blister.”
Josh Duffy (1978) Subject of the documentary THE MAYOR
Film Quotes
“We cannot overcome obstacles with ignorance.”
Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002) American evolutionary biologist
Source: Full House (1996), Chapter 4, “Case One: A Personal Story” (p. 46)
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969) Dutch feminist, author
Conclusion: The Miyé and the Magaalo (p. 261)
2010s, Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations (2010)
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969) Dutch feminist, author
Source: 2010s, Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations (2010), Chapter 15, “Dishonor, Death, and Feminists” (p. 232)
Sahl al-Tustari (818–896) arabian Sufi, Islamic theologian
Source: The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004), p. 55
Kim Stanley Robinson (1952) American science fiction writer
Source: Red Mars (1992), Chapter 5, “Falling into History” (p. 375)
Charles Mackay book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds (1841)
Karl Popper (1902–1994) Austrian-British philosopher of science
Principle attributed to Popper by Ryszard Kapiscinski in New York Times obituary, 1995.
Misattributed
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/01/magazine/lives-well-lived-karl-popper-the-philosopher-as-giantslayer.html
“Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, …
Alexandre Dumas book The Count of Monte Cristo
Chapter 17 http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo/Chapter_17 <br class="br">The Count of Monte Cristo (1845–1846)
“The cultured is curious. The ignorant, arrogant and conceited.”
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: Il colto è curioso. L'ignorante, arrogante e presuntuoso.
Source: prevale.net
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: L'ignorante pecca spesso di educazione, arroganza e presunzione. Per lui è normale comportarsi così perché non è abituato ad acquisire cultura, secondo lui nasce saggio e generalmente per la sua natura chiusa muore sempre insieme alla sua ignoranza.
Source: prevale.net
“Ignorance often hides behind an attitude.”
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: L’ignoranza spesso si nasconde dietro un atteggiamento.
Source: prevale.net