Ignorance is bliss
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Not knowing something troubling can be a happier state than facing harsh truth, suggesting innocence shields from pain.
Origin
From Thomas Gray's 1742 poem 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College,' ending 'where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise'-musing on youth's carefree days. Rooted in 18th-century pastoral ideals, it hit English proverbs by the 1800s, as in an 1820s essay on avoiding politics. It reflects Enlightenment tension between reason and comfort, growing into a wry nod at willful blindness.
Usage Examples
- She didn't check the news; ignorance is bliss, she says.
- Ignorance is bliss when it comes to his cooking skills.
- He avoids the bills, claiming ignorance is bliss.
Browse More