--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ignorance is the softest pillow on which…" description: "\"Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg" --- # Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest… ![“Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg) > “Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens ignorance to a comfortable pillow, suggesting that lack of knowledge offers a false sense of security. **In simple terms:** Ignorance feels comfortable, like a soft pillow. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge rather than stay comfortable in ignorance. Themes ignorance comfort knowledge self‑deception Mood contemplative philosophical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - personal reflection - educational settings - philosophical discussion Key Concepts epistemology human nature critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does comfort affect learning? - When is ignorance beneficial? A Different Perspective It may ignore that some ignorance can be protective in dangerous contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Softest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-softest-2713676/) [Man Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-rest-1323719/) [Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pillow/) [Rest Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-head-565332/) [Softest Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softest-pillow-382140/) ## Related quotes > [A clear conscience is the softest pillow in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/a-clear-conscience-is-the-softest-pillow-in-the-world/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [The softest pillow is a clean conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-h-swami-tejomayananda/the-softest-pillow-is-a-clean-conscience/) [H H Swami Tejomayananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-h-swami-tejomayananda/) > [Trusting God in everything is the softest pillow on which you can rest and the hardest rock on which you can stand firm, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/trusting-god-in-everything-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which-you-can/) [Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/) > [Man may rest in the eternal fitness; he may abide in the everlasting; and roam from the beginning to the end of all creation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/man-may-rest-in-the-eternal-fitness-he-may-abide-in-the-everlasting/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment. He is born to hopes and aspirations as the sparks fly upward, unless he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-is-not-for-man-to-rest-in-absolute-contentment-he-is-born-to-hopes/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [“I looked at my watch. Nine fifty-four. Time to go home and get your slippers on and play over a game of chess. Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/i-looked-at-my-watch-nine-fifty-four-time-to-go-home-and-get-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [“As if only he and the blind man could see what the rest of them could not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/as-if-only-he-and-the-blind-man-could-see-what-the-rest-of-them-could/) [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) > [Rest enough for the individual man, too much and too soon, and we call it death. But for man, no rest and no ending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/rest-enough-for-the-individual-man-too-much-and-too-soon-and-we-call/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-is-not-for-man-to-rest-in-absolute-contentment/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [I love 'Pac to death man but let that man rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-love-pac-to-death-man-but-let-that-man-rest/) [Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/) > [God made the integers, man made the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-kronecker/god-made-the-integers-man-made-the-rest/) [Leopold Kronecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-kronecker/) > [The learned man will not rest until he finds the one to learn more from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/the-learned-man-will-not-rest-until-he-finds-the-one-to-learn-more/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [It is shameful for man to rest in ignorance of the structure of his own body, especially when the knowledge of it mainly conduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-melanchthon/it-is-shameful-for-man-to-rest-in-ignorance-of-the-structure-of-his/) [Philipp Melanchthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-melanchthon/) > [Go with your love to the fields. Lie down in the shade. Rest your head in her lap. Swear allegiance to what is nighest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/go-with-your-love-to-the-fields-lie-down-in-the-shade-rest-your-head/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [When there are people crying in the streets, When they're starving for a meal to eat, When they simply need a place to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/3-doors-down/when-there-are-people-crying-in-the-streets-when-they-re-starving-for/) [3 Doors Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/3-doors-down/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## 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": "Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which-a-man-can-rest-his-head/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ignorance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which-a-man-can-rest-his-head/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/michel-de-montaigne-142_ignorance_ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which_1077136.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ignorance is the softest pillow on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which-a-man-can-rest-his-head/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/ignorance-is-the-softest-pillow-on-which-a-man-can-rest-his-head/#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 } } ] } ```