--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So, ignorant we are. But we're not…" description: "\"“So, ignorant we are. But we're not stupid. Indeed...remaining ignorant about politics and our government is a perfectly rational response to the gover..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/lawrence-lessig-3201_government_so-ignorant-we-are-but-we-re-not-stupid_1170190.png" --- # So, ignorant we are. But we're not stupid… ![“So, ignorant we are. But we're not stupid. Indeed...remaining ignorant about politics and our government is a perfectly rational response to the government we have. The question isn't what we know. The question is what we're capable of knowing, and doing, if we have the right incentives, and the…” quote by Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/lawrence-lessig-3201_government_so-ignorant-we-are-but-we-re-not-stupid_1170190.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/lawrence-lessig-3201_government_so-ignorant-we-are-but-we-re-not-stupid_1170190.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/lawrence-lessig-3201_government_so-ignorant-we-are-but-we-re-not-stupid_1170190.png) > ““So, ignorant we are. But we're not stupid. Indeed...remaining ignorant about politics and our government is a perfectly rational response to the government we have. The question isn't what we know. The question is what we're capable of knowing, and doing, if we have the right incentives, and the right opportunity.”” [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance about politics is rational given current incentives; improving knowledge depends on better incentives and opportunities. **In simple terms:** People stay uninformed due to system flaws. Key Takeaway Create better incentives for civic education. Themes political engagement rational ignorance incentives Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voter education - media reform - civic tech - policy design Key Concepts behavioral economics public policy Questions to Reflect On - What incentives would encourage informed voting? - How can opportunities for learning be expanded? A Different Perspective Changing incentives is politically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [There's a difference between being ignorant and being stupid... 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