---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ignorant eschew phenomena but not…"
description: "\"“The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.”\" — Huang Po"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg"
---

#  The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise…

![“The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.” quote by Huang Po](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg)

> ““The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.””

[Huang Po](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huang-po/)

## About This Quote

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

The wise focus on experience without over‑thinking, while the ignorant avoid experience but over‑think.

**In simple terms:** Wisdom balances thought and experience.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful awareness.

Themes

wisdom mindfulness philosophy Zen thought

Mood

calm reflective

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- meditation
- daily reflection
- teaching sessions
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

non‑dualism cognitive balance spiritual practice

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you over‑think daily life?
- Can you experience without labeling?

A Different Perspective

Over‑analysis can still hinder clarity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Eschew Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eschew-thought-1885685/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Eschew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-eschew-1885684/) [Thought Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-wise-665636/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise Eschew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-eschew-1885686/) [Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen/)

## Related quotes

> [“Don’t do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/don-t-do-it-eleanor-told-the-little-girl-insist-on-your-cup-of-stars-4/)

[Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/)

> [Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/even-a-fool-is-thought-wise-if-he-keeps-silent-and-discerning-if-he/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

> [“What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/what-fools-we-were-who-thought-ourselves-so-wise/)

[George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/)

> [Satire, whilst envy and ill-humor sway The mind of man, must always make her way; Nor to a bosom, with discretion fraught, Is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/satire-whilst-envy-and-ill-humor-sway-the-mind-of-man-must-always/)

[Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/)

> [It's funny: 'Next Thing' was written in a time of my life when I was actually really naive and thought that I was wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-cosmos/it-s-funny-next-thing-was-written-in-a-time-of-my-life-when-i-was/)

[Frankie Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-cosmos/)

> [If my head holds one thought wise and clear, it's You. Poor as I am, what I hold dear is You. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-my-head-holds-one-thought-wise-and-clear-it-s-you-poor-as-i-am/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [Many's the man/ who thought himself wise/ but what he needed/ he did not know...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/many-s-the-man-who-thought-himself-wise-but-what-he-needed-he-did-not/)

[Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/)

> [“I thought how wise he was to lure his rival out into the woods, where every fight's fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-geye/i-thought-how-wise-he-was-to-lure-his-rival-out-into-the-woods-where/)

[Peter Geye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-geye/)

> [“Your judgments about another person say more about your own character than the character of the person you are pointing a finger at. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/your-judgments-about-another-person-say-more-about-your-own-character/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Don't think of what you have to do, don't consider how to carry it out!" he exclaimed. "The shot will only go smoothly when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/don-t-think-of-what-you-have-to-do-don-t-consider-how-to-carry-it-out/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [“According to Zen Buddhists, all things have their existence in The Void. The Void is that which is no-thing, but contains all things within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/according-to-zen-buddhists-all-things-have-their-existence-in-the/)

[Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/)

> [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/)

[Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/)

> [Cooking is one of the most zen things - you have to be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-choi/cooking-is-one-of-the-most-zen-things-you-have-to-be-there/)

[Roy Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-choi/)

> [“50 Zen, read shit… BECOME MASTER!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/50-zen-read-shit-become-master/)

[Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/)

> [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

## More by Huang Po

> [“Do not permit the events of your daily lives to bind you, but never withdraw yourselves from them. Only by acting thus can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huang-po/do-not-permit-the-events-of-your-daily-lives-to-bind-you-but-never/)

[Huang Po](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huang-po/)

[Explore all 2 Huang Po quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huang-po/)

## More Ignorance quotes

> [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/ignorance-is-not-bliss-it-is-oblivion-determined-ignorance-is-the/)

[Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/)

> [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [“If knowledge does not liberate the self from the self, then ignorance is better than such knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-sanai/if-knowledge-does-not-liberate-the-self-from-the-self-then-ignorance/)

[Hakim Sanai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-sanai/)

> [You are senile old fool, and because of your impudence, I cannot fathom how you still live!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-senile-old-fool-and-because-of-your-impudence-i-cannot-fathom/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/)

[Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/)

> [“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/knowledge-will-forever-govern-ignorance-and-a-people-who-mean-to-be/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

[Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/)

> [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [“Those who embrace prejudice doom themselves to live in ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-lintz-sr/those-who-embrace-prejudice-doom-themselves-to-live-in-ignorance/)

[John P Lintz Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-lintz-sr/)

> [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Sanity can take one of only two forms: that of ignorance, or denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/sanity-can-take-one-of-only-two-forms-that-of-ignorance-or-denial/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

[Browse all 5,657 Ignorance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Huang Po"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huang-po/the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-thought-the-wise-eschew-thought/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ignorance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huang-po/the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-thought-the-wise-eschew-thought/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/huang-po-93511_ignorance_the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-th_174953.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.” — Huang Po",
                "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": "Huang Po",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huang-po/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The ignorant eschew phenomena but not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huang-po/the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-thought-the-wise-eschew-thought/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huang-po/the-ignorant-eschew-phenomena-but-not-thought-the-wise-eschew-thought/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
