--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better be unborn than unthought, for…" description: "\"Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.\" — Jessej Joseh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg" --- # Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root… ![“Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.” quote by Jessej Joseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg) > “Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.” Jessej Joseh ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests ignorance is the root of misfortune, implying that being unborn (non‑existent) is preferable to unthought (ignorant). **In simple terms:** Ignorance leads to misfortune. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge, avoid ignorance. Themes knowledge ignorance misfortune existence wisdom Mood thoughtful serious Type Ignorance:1 Misfortune:1 Ignorance Root:1 Better Unborn:1 Unthought Ignorance:1 Unborn Unthought:1 When to use this quote - education - self‑study - mindful living Key Concepts philosophical insight ethical living personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What does being 'unborn' symbolize? - How can you combat ignorance? A Different Perspective Avoiding thought can be fatal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) ## Related quotes > [In Buddhism, ignorance as the root cause of suffering refers to a fundamental misperception of the true nature of the self and all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-buddhism-ignorance-as-the-root-cause-of-suffering-refers-to-a/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Better be unborn than unthoughtful,for ignorance is the root of misfortune...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-joseph/better-be-unborn-than-unthoughtful-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of/) [Jesse Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-joseph/) > [Better were it to be unborn than to be ill bred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/better-were-it-to-be-unborn-than-to-be-ill-bred/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Better to be unborn than untaught, for ignorance is the root of all misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/better-to-be-unborn-than-untaught-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of-all/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A boy is better unborn than untaught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/a-boy-is-better-unborn-than-untaught/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) > [Ignorance, the root and the stem of every evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/ignorance-the-root-and-the-stem-of-every-evil/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I believe that ignorance is the root of all evil. And that no one knows the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-believe-that-ignorance-is-the-root-of-all-evil-and-that-no-one/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Money is not the root of all evil...ignorance is the root of all evil. People do cruel and foolish things for money because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/money-is-not-the-root-of-all-evil-ignorance-is-the-root-of-all-evil/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“Ignorance, the root and stem of every evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/ignorance-the-root-and-stem-of-every-evil/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Ignorance is the root cause of all difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/ignorance-is-the-root-cause-of-all-difficulties/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Inner darkness, which we call ignorance, is the root of suffering. The more inner light that comes, the more darkness will diminish. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/inner-darkness-which-we-call-ignorance-is-the-root-of-suffering-the/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Ignorance is the root of many ills. Knowledge must be the fundamental ally of nations that aspire, despite all their tragedies and problems, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/ignorance-is-the-root-of-many-ills-knowledge-must-be-the-fundamental/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [“Suffering can be traced back to the mind, with fundamental ignorance at its root. Therefore, ultimately, the best way to help others is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comcast-nbcuniversal/suffering-can-be-traced-back-to-the-mind-with-fundamental-ignorance/) Comcast NBCUniversal > [“Ignorance is the root of everything that stands in the way of these attainments. Ignorance binds us to suffering; therefore ignorance has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/ignorance-is-the-root-of-everything-that-stands-in-the-way-of-these/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [Ignorance: the root of all evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/ignorance-the-root-of-all-evil/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessej Joseh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessej-joseh/better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ignorance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessej-joseh/better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/jessej-joseh-247782_ignorance_better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-igno_2043960.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better be unborn than unthought, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.” — Jessej Joseh", "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": "Jessej Joseh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessej-joseh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Better be unborn than unthought, for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessej-joseh/better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessej-joseh/better-be-unborn-than-unthought-for-ignorance-is-the-root-of/#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 } } ] } ```