proverb · Words worth keeping
It is better to be ignorant than mistaken.
It is better to be ignorant than mistaken.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying prefers not knowing to holding an incorrect belief. It contrasts acknowledged uncertainty with mistaken confidence.
Example
Someone says they do not yet know an answer and checks evidence instead of presenting a guess as fact.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Ignorant concerns lack of knowledge, while the supplied gloss changes it into ignoring something. A responsible interpretation does not recommend refusing to learn; it can value admitting uncertainty before seeking evidence. In a particular situation, not knowing may also have costs, so the comparison is not a complete decision rule.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish honest uncertainty from a claim unsupported by knowledge.
Keep in mind
No reason to avoid learning or proof that ignorance is always preferable is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown