---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or…"
description: "\"Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good nor beaut..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg"
---

#  Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become…

![“Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good nor beautiful think they are good enough, and do not desire that which they do not think they are lacking.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg)

> “Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good nor beautiful think they are good enough, and do not desire that which they do not think they are lacking.”

[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.

Critiques ignorance that blinds people to the need for moral and aesthetic improvement, highlighting self‑deception.

**In simple terms:** Ignorance prevents desire for growth.

Key Takeaway

Self‑awareness precedes wisdom.

Themes

philosophy ethics self‑knowledge

Mood

reflective cautionary

Type

philosophical observation moral warning

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- educational curricula
- leadership training

Key Concepts

ignorance virtue beauty

Practical Applications

- stimulate critical thinking
- challenge complacency

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives people to think they are sufficient?
- How can societies foster humility?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-wisdom/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [Herein is the evil of ignorance, that he who is neither good nor wise is nevertheless satisfied with himself: he had no desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/herein-is-the-evil-of-ignorance-that-he-who-is-neither-good-nor-wise/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Not knowing a thing is not ignorance. Feigning knowledge you don't have can be--Sholto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/not-knowing-a-thing-is-not-ignorance-feigning-knowledge-you-don-t-2/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Not knowing a thing is not ignorance. Feigning knowledge you don’t have, can be,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/not-knowing-a-thing-is-not-ignorance-feigning-knowledge-you-don-t/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Knowledge is a dangerous thing. But ignorance is no protection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-du-toit/knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-but-ignorance-is-no-protection/)

Masha du Toit

> [I took a closer look. There is no such thing as ignorance. Ignorance is nothing But my limited knowledge. I took a closer look.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/i-took-a-closer-look-there-is-no-such-thing-as-ignorance-ignorance-is/)

[Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/)

> [“The ability for a person to operate satisfactorily in a thing is dependent on how much he knows about that thing. Ignorance is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-a-leinge/the-ability-for-a-person-to-operate-satisfactorily-in-a-thing-is/)

Yusuf A. Leinge

> [“Yeah, well that’s the thing about ignorance,” she said. “You can prove it wrong over and over and that doesn’t make it change. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-martin/yeah-well-that-s-the-thing-about-ignorance-she-said-you-can-prove-it/)

[E.E. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-martin/)

> [A man remains ignorant because he loves ignorance, and chooses ignorant thoughts; a man becomes wise because he loves wisdom and chooses wise thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-man-remains-ignorant-because-he-loves-ignorance-and-chooses/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [Hate is the last refuge of the ignorant. Love is the medicine. Compassion is the gift of the awakened ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jetsunma-ahkon-lhamo/hate-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-ignorant-love-is-the-medicine/)

[Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jetsunma-ahkon-lhamo/)

> [Ignore the ignorant, but love the loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-tillmon/ignore-the-ignorant-but-love-the-loving/)

[Alyssa Tillmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-tillmon/)

> [“And I declare myself free from ignorant love. You easy lovers and forgivers of mankind, stand back! I will love you at a distance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/from-the-mad-farmer-manifesto-the-first-amendment-wendall-berry/and-i-declare-myself-free-from-ignorant-love-you-easy-lovers-and/)

from The Mad Farmer Manifesto: The First Amendment Wendall Berry

> [“We hate each other because we are ignorant, but love each other because we are wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/we-hate-each-other-because-we-are-ignorant-but-love-each-other/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [I have always a slight feeling of pity for the man who has no knowledge of chess, just as I would pity the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-have-always-a-slight-feeling-of-pity-for-the-man-who-has-no/)

[Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/)

> [Any man who talks about his love affairs thereby proves he is ignorant of love and is moved only by vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/any-man-who-talks-about-his-love-affairs-thereby-proves-he-is/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [Ladies and Gentlemen, if you have a friend who says he does not believe in conspiracy, look him straight in the eye and tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/texe-w-marrs/ladies-and-gentlemen-if-you-have-a-friend-who-says-he-does-not/)

Texe W Marrs

## 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 Beautiful quotes

> [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/)

[Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/)

> [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/)

[Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/)

> [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/)

Tumblr

> [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/)

[Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/)

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [Growing up in Iceland, it was very beautiful, very safe, but quite isolated. There was something about jazz music that had a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/growing-up-in-iceland-it-was-very-beautiful-very-safe-but-quite/)

[Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/)

> [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

> [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/)

[Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

[Browse all 17,976 Beautiful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good nor beautiful think they are good enough, and do not desire that which they do not think they are lacking.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Plato"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-desire-to-become-wise-for-this/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beautiful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-desire-to-become-wise-for-this/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/plato-103_beautiful_neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-d_95441.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about…” — 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": "Neither do the ignorant love wisdom...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-desire-to-become-wise-for-this/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/neither-do-the-ignorant-love-wisdom-or-desire-to-become-wise-for-this/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
