Ignorance is bliss... Is it? Not always...
"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise" - Thomas Gray (18th century English poet) writes in his poem thus.
Knowledge (when applied) is power & Ignorance is bliss - We have to strike a balance between the two to be happy. To lead a sensible life, we need information and knowledge. Otherwise we will be groping in the dark. At the same time, too much of knowledge will burden our brain and mind. So, at times, it is better not to know certain things. What we should know and what we need not know? How to discern this? That is where our sharp acumen should come into play.
The ignorant person may not necessarily be an illiterate person. Even if he does not know anything about a particular 'subject' he would be deemed as ignorant of that particular subject only. For example, while we travel by flight, we are not supposed to carry certain things in the checked-in luggage and some other things in the hand baggage. Though it is all clearly displayed in the airport, many people make the mistake. We are not supposed to carry even a water bottle in hand and we will be asked to throw it in the dustbin before passing 'security'. But the anomalous thing is that we are allowed to buy liquor (in bottles) in 'duty-free' shop in the airport and carry them in hand!
When we travel in a new place where we visit for a reason, we may not know the roads properly. By mistake we might enter in the wrong direction, in 'one-way' road. We cannot claim to be ignorant when confronted by the policeman. Ignorance of law is not an excuse. Whatever we have to do, we have to do to escape that unpleasant situation. I am not suggesting anything contrary to law! There, ignorance is not bliss, in this context.
There are a lot of government schemes benefiting each section of the society. Invariably those schemes are not publicized properly. Here, ignorance of the beneficial scheme prevents us getting benefited. So, in such situations, we are the losers because of our ignorance.
Among friends, each will have his opinion about the other guys. If you come to know what your friends really think about you, you may not like it and it would result in sore feelings. So, it is better not to venture to know that. Let that be a riddle all through your relationship. Here ignorance is certainly bliss.
It is for us to decide where we have to be ignorant and where we have to be knowledgeable to be a happy person.
Knowledge (when applied) is power & Ignorance is bliss - We have to strike a balance between the two to be happy. To lead a sensible life, we need information and knowledge. Otherwise we will be groping in the dark. At the same time, too much of knowledge will burden our brain and mind. So, at times, it is better not to know certain things. What we should know and what we need not know? How to discern this? That is where our sharp acumen should come into play.
The ignorant person may not necessarily be an illiterate person. Even if he does not know anything about a particular 'subject' he would be deemed as ignorant of that particular subject only. For example, while we travel by flight, we are not supposed to carry certain things in the checked-in luggage and some other things in the hand baggage. Though it is all clearly displayed in the airport, many people make the mistake. We are not supposed to carry even a water bottle in hand and we will be asked to throw it in the dustbin before passing 'security'. But the anomalous thing is that we are allowed to buy liquor (in bottles) in 'duty-free' shop in the airport and carry them in hand!
When we travel in a new place where we visit for a reason, we may not know the roads properly. By mistake we might enter in the wrong direction, in 'one-way' road. We cannot claim to be ignorant when confronted by the policeman. Ignorance of law is not an excuse. Whatever we have to do, we have to do to escape that unpleasant situation. I am not suggesting anything contrary to law! There, ignorance is not bliss, in this context.
There are a lot of government schemes benefiting each section of the society. Invariably those schemes are not publicized properly. Here, ignorance of the beneficial scheme prevents us getting benefited. So, in such situations, we are the losers because of our ignorance.
Among friends, each will have his opinion about the other guys. If you come to know what your friends really think about you, you may not like it and it would result in sore feelings. So, it is better not to venture to know that. Let that be a riddle all through your relationship. Here ignorance is certainly bliss.
It is for us to decide where we have to be ignorant and where we have to be knowledgeable to be a happy person.
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