--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ignorance is an evil weed, which…" description: "\"Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.\" — William Beveridge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/william-beveridge-25660_citizens_ignorance-is-an-evil-weed-which-dictator_2815952.png" --- # Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate… ![“Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.” quote by William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/william-beveridge-25660_citizens_ignorance-is-an-evil-weed-which-dictator_2815952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/william-beveridge-25660_citizens_ignorance-is-an-evil-weed-which-dictator_2815952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/william-beveridge-25660_citizens_ignorance-is-an-evil-weed-which-dictator_2815952.png) > “Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.” [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance empowers dictators, but democracy must educate citizens to prevent manipulation. **In simple terms:** Education protects democracy. Key Takeaway Promote critical thinking and civic education. Themes politics education freedom Mood thoughtful activist Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - schools - media - public policy Key Concepts democracy propaganda resistance Questions to Reflect On - What strategies combat civic ignorance? - How can citizens stay informed? A Different Perspective Misinformation spreads quickly online. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Dictators Cultivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators-cultivate-3553589/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-evil-1733799/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Te Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/te-amo/) [Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weed/) [Weed Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weed-dictators-3553588/) ## Related quotes > [Ignorance is the evil - knowledge will be the remedy. Knowledge not of what sort of beings we shall be hereafter, or what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernestine-rose/ignorance-is-the-evil-knowledge-will-be-the-remedy-knowledge-not-of/) [Ernestine Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernestine-rose/) > [I envy animals for two things - their ignorance of evil to come, and their ignorance of what is said about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-envy-animals-for-two-things-their-ignorance-of-evil-to-come-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“The wicked know that if the ill they do be of sufficient horror that men will not speak against it. 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He saw a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/one-day-mara-the-buddhist-god-of-ignorance-and-evil-was-traveling/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Ignorance and evil-an ugly alliance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-angleberger/ignorance-and-evil-an-ugly-alliance/) [Tom Angleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-angleberger/) > [Races are very often invented from ignorance, or for evil purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-lieber/races-are-very-often-invented-from-ignorance-or-for-evil-purposes/) [Francis Lieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-lieber/) > [“Ignorance and evil, even in full flight, deal terrible backhanded      strokes at their pursuers."—HELPS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/ignorance-and-evil-even-in-full-flight-deal-terrible-backhanded/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [God's plan' is often a front for men's plans and a cover for inadequacy, ignorance, and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-daly/god-s-plan-is-often-a-front-for-men-s-plans-and-a-cover-for/) [Mary Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-daly/) > [Illicit trade corrupts corporations and governments alike, allows dictators to survive, and obscures oppression, including modern day slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/illicit-trade-corrupts-corporations-and-governments-alike-allows/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [You can do business with America or the authoritarian dictators of Beijing, who oppress their own people, put millions of Muslims in concentration camps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/you-can-do-business-with-america-or-the-authoritarian-dictators-of/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [The people will demand answers from all the dictators and the people who have not allowed this country to function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawaz-sharif/the-people-will-demand-answers-from-all-the-dictators-and-the-people/) [Nawaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawaz-sharif/) > [Dictators always look good until the last minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/dictators-always-look-good-until-the-last-minutes/) [Tomas Garrigue Masaryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/) > [We immerse ourselves in escapist mass entertainment, such as 'reality T.V.' programs. We support fanatical politicians and preachers. Our politicians, in turn, support dictators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/we-immerse-ourselves-in-escapist-mass-entertainment-such-as-reality-t/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) ## More by William Beveridge > [There is a very important distinction between a critical attitude of mind (or critical faculty) and a sceptical attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/there-is-a-very-important-distinction-between-a-critical-attitude-of/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Unemployment is like a headache or a high temperature - unpleasant and exhausting but not carrying in itself any explanation of its cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/unemployment-is-like-a-headache-or-a-high-temperature-unpleasant-and/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Organisation of social insurance should be treated as one part only of a comprehensive policy of social progress. Social insurance fully developed may provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/organisation-of-social-insurance-should-be-treated-as-one-part-only/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Full employment does not mean literally no unemployment; that is to say, it does not mean that every man and woman in the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/full-employment-does-not-mean-literally-no-unemployment-that-is-to/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [No one believes an hypothesis except its originator but everyone believes an experiment except the experimenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/no-one-believes-an-hypothesis-except-its-originator-but-everyone/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [The State, in organizing security should not stifle incentive, opportunity, responsibility; in establishing a national minimum, it should leave room and encouragement for voluntary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/the-state-in-organizing-security-should-not-stifle-incentive/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Not only the worst of my sins, but the best of my duties speak me a child of Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/not-only-the-worst-of-my-sins-but-the-best-of-my-duties-speak-me-a/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [The human mind likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protein and resists it with a similar energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/the-human-mind-likes-a-strange-idea-as-little-as-the-body-likes-a/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [A cockle-fish may as soon crowd the ocean into its narrow shell, as vain man ever comprehend the decrees of God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/a-cockle-fish-may-as-soon-crowd-the-ocean-into-its-narrow-shell-as/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [The trouble in modern democracy is that men do not approach to leadership until they have lost the desire to lead anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/the-trouble-in-modern-democracy-is-that-men-do-not-approach-to/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Scratch a pessimist and you find often a defender of privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/scratch-a-pessimist-and-you-find-often-a-defender-of-privilege/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [There is no inherent mechanism in our present system which can with certainty prevent competitive sectional bargaining for wages from setting up a vicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/there-is-no-inherent-mechanism-in-our-present-system-which-can-with/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [If the way of heaven be narrow, it is not long; and if the gate be straight, it opens into endless life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/if-the-way-of-heaven-be-narrow-it-is-not-long-and-if-the-gate-be/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [Want is one only of five giants on the road of reconstruction; the others are Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/want-is-one-only-of-five-giants-on-the-road-of-reconstruction-the/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) > [The trouble in modern democracy is that men do not approach to leadership until they have lost the de e to lead anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/the-trouble-in-modern-democracy-is-that-men-do-not-approach-to-2/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) [Explore all 22 William Beveridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. 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The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. 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