--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Put simply, people tend to do what they…" description: "\"“Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to do that which they have no conception of. In that way, ignorance profoundly channels the cour..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg" --- # Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to… ![“Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to do that which they have no conception of. In that way, ignorance profoundly channels the course we take in life . . . People fail to reach their potential as professionals, lovers, parents, and people simply because they are not aware of the…” quote by Steven Sloman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg) > ““Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to do that which they have no conception of. In that way, ignorance profoundly channels the course we take in life . . . People fail to reach their potential as professionals, lovers, parents, and people simply because they are not aware of the possible.”” Steven Sloman ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People act within known domains and ignore unknown possibilities, limiting their potential across life roles. **In simple terms:** Ignorance narrows life’s possibilities. Key Takeaway Explore beyond familiar knowledge. Themes ignorance potential growth awareness self‑improvement Mood curious motivated Type psychological educational personal When to use this quote - career development - personal relationships - parenting - creative pursuits - self‑actualization Key Concepts cognitive bias psychology Questions to Reflect On - What unknown area could expand your potential? - How can you cultivate curiosity daily? A Different Perspective Breaking out of comfort zones is uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) ## Related quotes > [The only way out of ignorance is awareness, which includes looking at the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-premodaya/the-only-way-out-of-ignorance-is-awareness-which-includes-looking-at/) [Swami Premodaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-premodaya/) > [I'm glad to see you're not letting your education get in the way of your ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-glad-to-see-you-re-not-letting-your-education-get-in-the-way-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The bad one is that way because of the ignorance, therefore he can be healed with wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-bad-one-is-that-way-because-of-the-ignorance-therefore-he-can-be/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The only way out of ignorance is awareness for looking the fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-out-of-ignorance-is-awareness-for-looking-the-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What do we know to be true about gang violence? We know we will fail if we fixate on the symptoms and not address…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/what-do-we-know-to-be-true-about-gang-violence-we-know-we-will-fail/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Appear to know only this--never to fail nor fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/appear-to-know-only-this-never-to-fail-nor-fall/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Today it seems to me that my whole life was nothing but a string of those small near misses: a race whose result we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dominique-bauby/today-it-seems-to-me-that-my-whole-life-was-nothing-but-a-string-of/) [Jean-Dominique Bauby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dominique-bauby/) > [“That man doesn't know how to fail and that's his greatest weakness. You see, and always remember this, there are two things you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/that-man-doesn-t-know-how-to-fail-and-that-s-his-greatest-weakness/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [The only thing better than succeeding is watching people you know fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/the-only-thing-better-than-succeeding-is-watching-people-you-know-fail/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [You can KNOW something yet FAIL to do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-myers/you-can-know-something-yet-fail-to-do-it/) [Kevin Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-myers/) > [When I write software, I know that it will fail, either due to my own mistake, or due to some other cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wietse-venema/when-i-write-software-i-know-that-it-will-fail-either-due-to-my-own/) [Wietse Venema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wietse-venema/) > [With each film, you are still trying to get the length and measure right. And failure is all about others' perception of you. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/with-each-film-you-are-still-trying-to-get-the-length-and-measure/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-each-day-is-the-same-as-the-next-it-s-because-people-fail-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Many people fail in their career, business and relationship, and others get stuck because of their inability to make quality decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkem-mpamah/many-people-fail-in-their-career-business-and-relationship-and-others/) [Nkem Mpamah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkem-mpamah/) > [Some people fail to realize that there will always be those immature people who like to see you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaylon-hillsman/some-people-fail-to-realize-that-there-will-always-be-those-immature/) [Jaylon Hillsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaylon-hillsman/) ## More by Steven Sloman > [“I really do believe that our attitudes are shaped much more by our social groups than they are by facts on the ground. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sloman/i-really-do-believe-that-our-attitudes-are-shaped-much-more-by-our/) Steven Sloman Explore all 2 Steven Sloman quotes ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "“Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to do that which they have no conception of. In that way, ignorance profoundly channels the course we take in life . . . People fail to reach their potential as professionals, lovers, parents, and people simply because they are not aware of the possible.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Sloman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sloman/put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-know-and-fail-to-do-that-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ignorance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sloman/put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-know-and-fail-to-do-that-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/steven-sloman-99756_quote_put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-k_895206.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Put simply, people tend to do what they know and fail to do that which they have no conception of. In that…” — Steven Sloman", "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": "Steven Sloman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sloman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Put simply, people tend to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sloman/put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-know-and-fail-to-do-that-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sloman/put-simply-people-tend-to-do-what-they-know-and-fail-to-do-that-which/#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 } } ] } ```