Idiom idiom
ignorance is bliss
Meaning
You're better off not knowing
Examples
“I do not want to know the calories; ignorance is bliss.”
“She decided not to read the online reviews of the hotel before her trip, believing that ignorance is bliss.”
“While some argue for total transparency in governance, others maintain that ignorance is bliss when the truth is too troubling for the public to handle.”
Origin
first recorded 18th c. disputed origin
first recorded 18th c. disputed origin
From Thomas Gray's 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College' (1742): 'where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.'
Last updated June 7, 2026