IGNORANCE

 

          IGNORANCE

“Ignorance” is defined as lack of knowledge or information. Some of its synonyms are unawareness, unfamiliarity, inexperience and illiteracy.  

 Ignorance cannot be equated with innocence because  it is no excuse for escaping its consequence. There is a famous quotation says: “ignorance of law is no excuse.”

Some famous thoughts on ignorance are: 1.  Better be unborn than untaught, for ignorance is the root of misfortune. 2. To be proud of learning is the greatest ignorance. 3. Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise. 4. So long as thou art ignorant be not ashamed to learn. Ignorance is the greatest of all infirmities , and, when justified, the chiefest of all follies. 5. He that is not aware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.

Nobody can have inexhaustible knowledge because knowledge is always widening in our evolutionary world. Also, keep it in mind that educational institutions are not the only and the best sources of gaining knowledge,  Experience is the greatest teacher. Unschooled people are also learned. They have educated themselves in the practical school of life.

Books, too, are not fully satisfactory sources of gaining knowledge.

Knowledge about God, the creation of the world, the purpose of life, the mortality of all sorts of existence is inaccessible from any available source. No sage, saint or seer can answer all our questions about life and death. A lot of ignorance is bound to be there for ages to come.  Both religion and science are also not perfect sources of comprehensive knowledge . Even so,it is desirable to acquire as much knowledge as we can at any given time.

The English poet-playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) said: “Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”

Finally, this short but very  impressive quote: “Ignorance is an enemy, even to its owner.”

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G.R.Kanwal

24 October 2024