--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ignorance is a horrible thing. But…" description: "\"“Ignorance is a horrible thing. But arrogance, the belief that knowing a little more than the ignorant makes you wise, is more horrible still.”\" — Jame..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/james-rozoff-13738_arrogance_ignorance-is-a-horrible-thing-but-arroga_2410717.jpg" --- # Ignorance is a horrible thing. But arrogance, the belief… ![“Ignorance is a horrible thing. But arrogance, the belief that knowing a little more than the ignorant makes you wise, is more horrible still.” quote by James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/james-rozoff-13738_arrogance_ignorance-is-a-horrible-thing-but-arroga_2410717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/james-rozoff-13738_arrogance_ignorance-is-a-horrible-thing-but-arroga_2410717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/james-rozoff-13738_arrogance_ignorance-is-a-horrible-thing-but-arroga_2410717.jpg) > ““Ignorance is a horrible thing. But arrogance, the belief that knowing a little more than the ignorant makes you wise, is more horrible still.”” [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking you know enough can be more damaging than lacking knowledge, because it breeds overconfidence and dismisses true learning. **In simple terms:** Overconfidence is worse than ignorance. Key Takeaway Check your assumptions before claiming wisdom. Themes humility knowledge overconfidence Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - leadership - education - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts cognitive bias self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What evidence do you have of your knowledge? - How can you stay open to learning? A Different Perspective It may ignore valuable input from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) ## Related quotes > [The opposite of humility is arrogance--the belief that we are wiser or better than others. Arrogance promotes separation rather than community. It looms like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-opposite-of-humility-is-arrogance-the-belief-that-we-are-wiser-or/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Envy is as evil a thing as arrogance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/envy-is-as-evil-a-thing-as-arrogance/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Intelligence is the unlimited ability to conceive of concepts, and arrogance is the belief that one "knows" anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monk-e-mind/intelligence-is-the-unlimited-ability-to-conceive-of-concepts-and/) Monk E. Mind > [It was foreordained that I should go alone to Umvelos', and in the promptings of my own infallible heart I believed I saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/it-was-foreordained-that-i-should-go-alone-to-umvelos-and-in-the/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [People seem very arrogant when they say 'I'm right and you're wrong', but in practice we all believe we're right. We have a staggering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/people-seem-very-arrogant-when-they-say-i-m-right-and-you-re-wrong/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Never mistake your arrogance for confidence and then let your ignorance become you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-quinlan/never-mistake-your-arrogance-for-confidence-and-then-let-your/) Ryan Quinlan > [“Knowing more than someone does not necessarily mean that you know every single thing they know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/knowing-more-than-someone-does-not-necessarily-mean-that-you-know/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“People who make up their minds about something never listen to advice - especially when it's to the contrary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-who-make-up-their-minds-about-something-never-listen-to-advice/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Larry Summers, I think, he had a long history of arrogance and relative ignorance about poor people's culture and working people's culture and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/larry-summers-i-think-he-had-a-long-history-of-arrogance-and-relative/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) ## More by James Rozoff > [“Art is the medium through which new thoughts, perspectives, and attitudes are brought into the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/art-is-the-medium-through-which-new-thoughts-perspectives-and/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“The fool attempts to predict the next big wave while ignoring the tide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/the-fool-attempts-to-predict-the-next-big-wave-while-ignoring-the-tide/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Science is the process of obscuring the marvelous with explanations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/science-is-the-process-of-obscuring-the-marvelous-with-explanations/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Death is the night sky, the background against which the fleeting fireworks of life are displayed, an empty stage upon which the drama of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/death-is-the-night-sky-the-background-against-which-the-fleeting/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“People perceive the divine according to their own biases. That doesn’t make the experience any less real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/people-perceive-the-divine-according-to-their-own-biases-that-doesn-t/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“A thousand truths can be assembled in such a way as to create a colossal lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/a-thousand-truths-can-be-assembled-in-such-a-way-as-to-create-a/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Here is the paradox of it: the more of an individual you become the more you realize we are interrelated, that success of one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/here-is-the-paradox-of-it-the-more-of-an-individual-you-become-the/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Every man is ultimately groping in the dark, believing he has some understanding. Perhaps it is better thus. Perhaps we would go mad to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/every-man-is-ultimately-groping-in-the-dark-believing-he-has-some/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“There is no greater thing than to be oneself, and it is never too late to do so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/there-is-no-greater-thing-than-to-be-oneself-and-it-is-never-too-late/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Facts, like living things, have a value in and of themselves and demand respect. Yet some people use them as means to an end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/facts-like-living-things-have-a-value-in-and-of-themselves-and-demand/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“When you’ve known somebody since childhood, you never have to worry about them seeing the child that still exists inside of you. They’ve already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/when-you-ve-known-somebody-since-childhood-you-never-have-to-worry/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“I find myself becoming increasingly nostalgic for the past, but after all I suppose that is the only thing one can be nostalgic about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/i-find-myself-becoming-increasingly-nostalgic-for-the-past-but-after/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“They are always the problem. There is no evil in this world you cannot blame on them. The world will never be right as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/they-are-always-the-problem-there-is-no-evil-in-this-world-you-cannot/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“Where once we aspired to be more like our heroes, today we try to make our heroes more like us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/where-once-we-aspired-to-be-more-like-our-heroes-today-we-try-to-make/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“He who dies with the most toys...dies a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/he-who-dies-with-the-most-toys-dies-a-child/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) [Explore all 49 James Rozoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) ## More Arrogance quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ignorance is a horrible thing. 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