Attitude Quote by John Ashbery
“The term ignorant is indeed perhaps an overstatement, implying as it does that something is known somewhere, whereas in reality we are not even sure of this: we in fact cannot aver with any degree of certainty that we are ignorant. Yet this is not so bad; we have at any rate kept our open-mindedness -- that, at least, we may be sure that we have -- and are not in any danger, or so it seems, of freezing into the pious attitudes of those true spiritual bigots whose faces are turned toward eternity and who therefore can see nothing.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Ignorant", 1975, Book of Poems
Acknowledging uncertainty about what we truly know keeps us open‑minded, preventing dogmatic certainty and spiritual rigidity.
In simple terms: Admitting we don’t know keeps us open.
Key Takeaway
Stay humble and open‑minded.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
humility
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- academic debate
- cross‑cultural dialogue
Key Concepts
critical thinking
spiritual openness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be truly open‑minded?
- How can we balance humility with confident action?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on uncertainty can lead to indecision.
