---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely…"
description: "\"Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the orthodox theory of the disease polio-myelitis.\" — Elizabeth Kenny"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png"
---

#  Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the…

![“Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the orthodox theory of the disease polio-myelitis.” quote by Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png)

> “Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the orthodox theory of the disease polio-myelitis.”

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ignorance of established disease theory can be a catalyst for innovative treatment approaches.

**In simple terms:** Ignorance can spark innovation.

Key Takeaway

Leverage fresh perspectives to challenge conventions.

Themes

medicine innovation learning

Mood

cautious curious

Type

professional inspirational

When to use this quote

- patient care
- research design
- education curricula

Key Concepts

theory critique clinical practice

Questions to Reflect On

- How balance novel ideas with evidence?
- When should you seek expert guidance?

A Different Perspective

Lack of knowledge may risk patient safety.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Myelitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myelitis/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/)

## Related quotes

> [“You can know a thing to death and be for all purposes completely ignorant of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely-2/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [Until I became a published writer, I remained completely ignorant of books on how to write and courses on the subject ... they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/until-i-became-a-published-writer-i-remained-completely-ignorant-of/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

> [“We can be completely ignorant about how or why something works and yet still relish the results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-detweiler/we-can-be-completely-ignorant-about-how-or-why-something-works-and/)

[Craig Detweiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-detweiler/)

> [I'm sure that President Johnson would never have pursued the war in Vietnam if he'd ever had a Fulbright to Japan, or say Bangkok,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/i-m-sure-that-president-johnson-would-never-have-pursued-the-war-in/)

[J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/)

> [Perhaps there will be prattlers who, although completely ignorant of mathematics, nevertheless take it upon themselves to pass judgment on mathematical questions, and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/perhaps-there-will-be-prattlers-who-although-completely-ignorant-of/)

[Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/)

> [It is better to be completely ignorant than to be ill taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-be-completely-ignorant-than-to-be-ill-taught/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [The only thing that you can do is do jobs and see if people respond to that. I'm always holding onto the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/the-only-thing-that-you-can-do-is-do-jobs-and-see-if-people-respond/)

[Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/)

> [“The weekend was a much-needed breath of fresh air; Monday always seemed to not only take that breath right back, but add a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-starzec/the-weekend-was-a-much-needed-breath-of-fresh-air-monday-always/)

[Jennifer Starzec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-starzec/)

> [“Dancing with a spinal cord injury is a challenge like no other, but I aspired to prove to myself that I could still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-todd-hammer/dancing-with-a-spinal-cord-injury-is-a-challenge-like-no-other-but-i/)

[Sarah Todd Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-todd-hammer/)

> [I got really, really sick with a horrible disease called transverse myelitis; I lost my legs. I couldn't play anymore. It was a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-jordison/i-got-really-really-sick-with-a-horrible-disease-called-transverse/)

[Joey Jordison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-jordison/)

> [ “The thought of being able to \[move my arms\] made me want to give up my legs \[instead\] since I was accustomed to using… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-todd-hammer/the-thought-of-being-able-to-move-my-arms-made-me-want-to-give-up-my/)

[Sarah Todd Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-todd-hammer/)

> [If you do an episode about something like transverse myelitis, it's a real disease that's out there, there are a lot of people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/if-you-do-an-episode-about-something-like-transverse-myelitis-it-s-a/)

[Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/)

> [“People who don't see you every day have a hard time understanding how on some days--good days--you can run three miles, but can barely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-starzec/people-who-don-t-see-you-every-day-have-a-hard-time-understanding-how/)

[Jennifer Starzec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-starzec/)

> [“The strong, ferocious wind just made the chill worse, and as it blew around me, electric bursts of pain shot through my body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-starzec/the-strong-ferocious-wind-just-made-the-chill-worse-and-as-it-blew/)

[Jennifer Starzec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-starzec/)

> [“I had learned quickly that life doesn't always go the way I want it to, and that's okay. I still plod on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-todd-hammer/i-had-learned-quickly-that-life-doesn-t-always-go-the-way-i-want-it/)

[Sarah Todd Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-todd-hammer/)

## More by Elizabeth Kenny

> [If someone angers you, they control you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/if-someone-angers-you-they-control-you/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [He looked at the book, took my name, and consulted his records. Then he informed me I had been lost at sea and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/he-looked-at-the-book-took-my-name-and-consulted-his-records-then-he/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [“Its better to be a lion for a day then a sheep for life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/its-better-to-be-a-lion-for-a-day-then-a-sheep-for-life/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [I'd like to live every moment of my life, but not a moment after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/i-d-like-to-live-every-moment-of-my-life-but-not-a-moment-after/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [A measure of victory has been won, and honors have been bestowed in token thereof. But honours fade or are forgotten, and monuments crumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/a-measure-of-victory-has-been-won-and-honors-have-been-bestowed-in/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [He who angers you conquers you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/he-who-angers-you-conquers-you/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [It is easier to recount grievances and slights than it is to set down a broad redress of such grievances and slights. The reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/it-is-easier-to-recount-grievances-and-slights-than-it-is-to-set-down/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [O sleep, O gentle sleep, I thought gratefully, Nature's gentle nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/o-sleep-o-gentle-sleep-i-thought-gratefully-nature-s-gentle-nurse/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [Some minds remain open long enough for the truth not only to enter but to pass on through by way of a ready exit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/some-minds-remain-open-long-enough-for-the-truth-not-only-to-enter/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/it-s-better-to-be-a-lion-for-a-day-than-a-sheep-all-your-life/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [As a girl my temper often got out of bounds. But one day when I became angry at a friend over some trivial matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/as-a-girl-my-temper-often-got-out-of-bounds-but-one-day-when-i-became/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [Memories do not always behave in an orderly way, but bloom, as it were, erratically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/memories-do-not-always-behave-in-an-orderly-way-but-bloom-as-it-were/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [The American doctor possesses a combination of conservatism and... an eagerness to know what it is really all about, in order that he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/the-american-doctor-possesses-a-combination-of-conservatism-and-an/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [My mother used to say, 'He who angers you, conquers you!' But my mother was a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/my-mother-used-to-say-he-who-angers-you-conquers-you-but-my-mother/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

> [Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/panic-plays-no-part-in-the-training-of-a-nurse/)

[Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

[Explore all 19 Elizabeth Kenny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/)

## More Community quotes

> [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/)

[Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/)

[Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/)

> [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/)

[Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/)

> [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/)

[Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/)

[Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/)

[Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/)

[Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the orthodox theory of the disease polio-myelitis.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Kenny"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ignorant-of-the-orthodox-theory/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Community"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ignorant-of-the-orthodox-theory/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/elizabeth-kenny-28808_community_fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ign_2616892.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant of the orthodox theory of the disease polio-myelitis.” — Elizabeth Kenny",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Elizabeth Kenny",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Fortunately, perhaps, I was completely ignorant...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ignorant-of-the-orthodox-theory/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/fortunately-perhaps-i-was-completely-ignorant-of-the-orthodox-theory/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
