ignorance is bliss
Ignorance is bliss (phrase) means Said to mean that not knowing about something unpleasant makes a person happier than knowing would. Example: “I never read the reviews before a flight — ignorance is bliss.”
How to use ignorance is bliss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYou are happier when you do not know the bad news.
A common conversational proverb; fine in speech and casual writing.
The phrase is fixed. Do not change it to 'the ignorance is a bliss' — it takes no articles.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I never read the reviews before a flight — _____.
Etymology
From Thomas Gray's poem, Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."
Synonyms
View more →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.
What is the meaning of ignorance is bliss?
"ignorance is bliss" (phrase) means said to mean that not knowing about something unpleasant makes a person happier than knowing would.
What is another word for ignorance is bliss?
Other words for "ignorance is bliss" include what you don't know can't hurt you, better not to know.