--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Entire ignorance is not so terrible or…" description: "\"Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg" --- # Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil… ![“Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg) > “Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance is not the worst evil; greater evils exist beyond lack of knowledge. **In simple terms:** Ignorance isn’t the worst. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding. Themes knowledge ignorance ethics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - public policy - personal growth - media literacy Key Concepts philosophy moral hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What are greater evils than ignorance? - How can we address deeper moral failures? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on ignorance may ignore systemic harms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) [Entire Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-ignorance-1047383/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-far-1047386/) [Extreme Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extreme-evil-1047385/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-terrible-1047384/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) ## Related quotes > [Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all; too much cleverness and too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is thus that we walk through the world like the blind, not knowing whither we are going, regarding as bad what is good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/it-is-thus-that-we-walk-through-the-world-like-the-blind-not-knowing/) [Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/) > [Ignorance of impending evil is far better than a knowledge of its approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/ignorance-of-impending-evil-is-far-better-than-a-knowledge-of-its/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Evil is a far more cunning and persevering propagandist than good, for it has no inward strength, and is driven to seek countenance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/evil-is-a-far-more-cunning-and-persevering-propagandist-than-good-for/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Denouncing evil is a far cry from doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gourevitch/denouncing-evil-is-a-far-cry-from-doing-good/) [Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gourevitch/) > [It is extreme evil to depart from the company of the living before you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-extreme-evil-to-depart-from-the-company-of-the-living-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Extreme good, extreme evil: the abilities required are similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/extreme-good-extreme-evil-the-abilities-required-are-similar/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I think it is no exaggeration to say we are on the cusp of the further perfection of extreme evil, an evil whose possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-joy/i-think-it-is-no-exaggeration-to-say-we-are-on-the-cusp-of-the/) [Bill Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-joy/) > [Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/ignorance-of-all-things-is-an-evil-neither-terrible-nor-excessive-nor/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Limits have to be set on how far one can simply use the... cleverness that we have to make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/limits-have-to-be-set-on-how-far-one-can-simply-use-the-cleverness/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Ultimately, of course, you must decide for yourself whether the subjective psychological effects created by your evolved cognitive biases reflect an objective reality, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/ultimately-of-course-you-must-decide-for-yourself-whether-the/) [Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/) > [A fool is a person who guesses and gets it wrong, a clever man is one who guesses, regardless of time period, and gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-fool-is-a-person-who-guesses-and-gets-it-wrong-a-clever-man-is-one/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If we fail to appreciate the soul that Easternism gives us, then what we have is a disconnected, Greco-Roman, Western, egocentric, compartmentalized, reductionist, fragmented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/if-we-fail-to-appreciate-the-soul-that-easternism-gives-us-then-what/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Rumi observed, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/rumi-observed-sell-your-cleverness-and-purchase-bewilderment/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Cleverness quotes > [“Rumi observed, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/rumi-observed-sell-your-cleverness-and-purchase-bewilderment/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [If we fail to appreciate the soul that Easternism gives us, then what we have is a disconnected, Greco-Roman, Western, egocentric, compartmentalized, reductionist, fragmented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/if-we-fail-to-appreciate-the-soul-that-easternism-gives-us-then-what/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [A fool is a person who guesses and gets it wrong, a clever man is one who guesses, regardless of time period, and gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-fool-is-a-person-who-guesses-and-gets-it-wrong-a-clever-man-is-one/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Ultimately, of course, you must decide for yourself whether the subjective psychological effects created by your evolved cognitive biases reflect an objective reality, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/ultimately-of-course-you-must-decide-for-yourself-whether-the/) [Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/) > [Limits have to be set on how far one can simply use the... cleverness that we have to make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/limits-have-to-be-set-on-how-far-one-can-simply-use-the-cleverness/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Sometimes people try way too hard to sound clever on Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-people-try-way-too-hard-to-sound-clever-on-facebook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many of the greatest men have owed their success to industry rather than to cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-of-the-greatest-men-have-owed-their-success-to-industry-rather/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [What a curious picture it is to find man, homo sapiens, of divine origin, we are told, seriously considering going underground to escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/what-a-curious-picture-it-is-to-find-man-homo-sapiens-of-divine/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [“Neither the Russians nor the Americans were the cleverest people, or the most experienced, in the world that followed 1945. The French were rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach-2/neither-the-russians-nor-the-americans-were-the-cleverest-people-or/) [T.R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach-2/) > [Where there is simplicity, there are a hundred Angels, but where there is cleverness - there are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-of-optina/where-there-is-simplicity-there-are-a-hundred-angels-but-where-there/) [Ambrose of Optina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-of-optina/) > [Human integrity is determined by the heart, not by cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/human-integrity-is-determined-by-the-heart-not-by-cleverness/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The art of investment has one characteristic that is not generally appreciated. A creditable, if unspectacular, result can be achieved by the lay investor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-art-of-investment-has-one-characteristic-that-is-not-generally/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely. The notion that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) [Browse all 406 Cleverness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleverness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/plato-103_cleverness_entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-e_1690253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Entire ignorance is not so terrible or extreme an evil, and is far from being the greatest of all.” — Plato", "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": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Entire ignorance is not so terrible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/entire-ignorance-is-not-so-terrible-or-extreme-an-evil-and-is-far-2/#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 } } ] } ```