ignorance is bliss
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for ignorance is bliss, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrase — Said to mean that not knowing about something unpleasant makes a person happier than knowing would.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ignorance is bliss
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
A common conversational proverb; fine in speech and casual writing.
Etymology
From Thomas Gray's poem, Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."
Full origin of ignorance is bliss →Frequently asked questions
Where does the phrase ignorance is bliss come from?
It comes from Thomas Gray's poem 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College', which ends with the line that where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise. The full quotation is more sceptical than the modern saying, which usually drops the second half.
Is ignorance is bliss meant as advice?
Rarely. It is normally used wryly or self-mockingly about something the speaker has chosen not to look into. Used about someone else it can be a criticism, implying they are happy only because they refuse to face the facts.