Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.

Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
Prov. If knowing something makes you unhappy, it would be better not to know it. (Also the cliché: ignorance is bliss.) •

Ellen: The doctor didn't tell Dad that Mom probably won't recover from her illness. Do you think we should tell him? Bill: No. It would only make him unhappy and ruin their last months together. Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise — Now frequently abbreviated to ignorance is bliss. 1742 GRAY Poems (1966) 10 Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, ’Tis folly to be wise. 1865 SURTEES Facey Romford’s Hounds lxxi. Of course Facey knew nothing… …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • ignorance — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Lack of knowledge Nouns 1. ignorance, nescience; illiteracy; darkness, blindness; incomprehension, inexperience, simplicity, simpleness, innocence; stupidity; unawareness. See folly, insanity,… …   English dictionary for students

  • wise — see it is easy to be wise after the event it is a wise child that knows its own father early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise a fool may give a wise man counsel fools ask questions that wise men cannot answer …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • where — /hwair, wair/, adv. 1. in or at what place?: Where is he? Where do you live? 2. in what position or circumstances?: Where do you stand on this question? Without money, where are you? 3. in what particular respect, way, etc.?: Where does this… …   Universalium

  • where — [[t](h)wɛər, wɛər[/t]] adv. 1) in or at what place?: Where is he? Where do you live?[/ex] 2) in what position or circumstances?: Where do you stand on this question? Without money, where are you?[/ex] 3) in what particular respect, way, etc.?:… …   From formal English to slang

  • where — /wɛə / (say wair) adverb 1. in or at what place: where is she? where do you live? 2. in what position or circumstances: where do you stand on this question? without money where are you? 3. in what particular, respect, way, etc.: where does this… …  

  • ignorance — see where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • folly — see where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • bliss — see where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • fol|ly — «FOL ee», noun, plural lies. 1. the fact or state of being foolish; lack of sense; unwise conduct: » It was folly to eat too much on the picnic. My only books Were women s looks, and folly s all they taught me (Thomas Moore). Where ignorance is… …   Useful english dictionary

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