I feel that some people have a hard time with the truths…
““I feel that some people have a hard time with the truths around us, not only the sexual abuse by priests, but all bad things. I call it chosen ignorance. This modified form of ignorance is found in people who, if confronted with certain truths realize that they have to accept them and thereby acknowledge evil, and that scares them. Opening up and letting the truth in might knock them off their perceived center. It is too hard, period.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He describes “chosen ignorance” as deliberately avoiding uncomfortable truths, especially about systemic evil, because confronting them threatens personal stability.
In simple terms: People avoid hard truths to stay comfortable.
Key Takeaway
Challenge your own willful blindness.
Themes
ignorance
truth
comfort
evil
Mood
serious
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
critical.
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- religious institutions
- personal growth
- education reform
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths are you avoiding?
- How can you safely confront uncomfortable realities?
A Different Perspective
Facing truth can cause distress and resistance.