Ignorance Is Bliss: How Do We Use It
What does this English saying really mean? Well, bliss is a synonym for happiness or joy. Ignorant, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, means not having enough knowledge or information about something or a situation.
How do we use this and is it a negative expression? In English, usage of an expression almost always depends on context. In most cases, this expression isn’t negative; quite the opposite in fact. It carries the idea that not knowing all the facts about something can actually make you happier.
How?
An excellent example is the never-ending stream of negative news reports many of us are exposed to on a daily basis. While it is useful to stay informed – up to a point – it can be good for us not to read every single detail about a tragic story. Or know about every sad event around the world, for that matter. That would be detrimental to our emotional wellbeing.
In other words, being less informed can make you blissful or happier in general. Living in a peaceful present without the complication of every possible worry and headline.
What is remarkable, though, is that this term was coined almost 300 years ago by the English poet, Thomas Gray. If people felt that way back in 1742, when life was relatively much simpler, it is even more true today.
However, there is a caution. The website, The Practical Psych, notes that ignoring problems that can directly affect us can lead to snowballing consequences. One doesn't want to be in ignorance of things that need to be addressed.
So, how can we use the saying? Here are some examples:
John decided not to check out the movie reviews before going to the cinema, because ignorance is bliss.
Kathy now only reads the headlines once a day rather than obsessively watching all the latest news reels because ignorance is bliss.
A related collocation for this saying is “blissfully ignorant”. For instance, you might hear someone say something along the lines of “I was blissfully ignorant of the punctuality record of the airline, otherwise I’d have booked with a different company.”
Discussion
Do you have a similar saying in your first language?
What situations do you think it is good to apply the saying “ignorance is bliss” to?
Are there any scenarios in a company where you might not want to be kept in the loop on everything?
Do you like following the latest news? If so, business, celebrity news, sports or something else?
Describe a situation where you would have wanted to know more information than you were initially told at work?
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