Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Daniel Boorstin Quote “We must abandon the prevalent belief in the superior wisdom of the ignorant.” ~ Daniel Boorstin (1914-2004) American historian, professor, attorney, writer, Librarian of the United States Congress (1975-1987) Education , Faith , Fear , Humor , Knowledge , Tolerance , Truth , Ignorance Ratings and Comments Reply Carla, Wisconsin 8/10/05 Well said. Reply Fred, Evansville 8/2/08 Unfortunately, it's the ignorant (generally) who hold fast to this belief. Reply Anonymous 3/11/09 Thank you, Daniel Boorstin! Reply Anonymous 9/16/09 2 Reply J Carlton, Calgary 4/6/11 America's rapid demise can be attributed to the widely held misconception that our government is benevolent, it is not. What we are witnessing today is the election of the malevolent by the ignorant, as neither side of the aisle holds American values as moral or noble, and all the while the electorate is at the Mall. 1 Reply jim k, Austin,Tx 4/6/11 As someone on this very site once said, " Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers." This is usually proven around election time. Reply Waffler, Smith 4/6/11 A thought provoking quote. But to me it smacks of or leaves open the question "Just who are the ignorant"?. This open question allows supermen type, Nazi types to step into the void and tell us who they are. I feel certain Boorstin was ignorant about something. The only ignorance we need to fear is the ignorance of failing to research things and look things up. 4 Reply J Carlton, Calgary 4/6/11 Waffler your right about that last part. I looked up the 10 planks of the Communist Manifesto and they look just like Amerika today. Restore the Republic. :) 1 Reply Mike, Norwalk 4/6/11 Very accurate when applied to the statist theocracy infesting this land. 4 Reply E Archer, NYC 4/6/11 The ignorant are those that willfully 'ignore' anything that might upset the delusion they hold so dear. Fundamentalists of all kinds are indeed ignorant. Those that say "I don't know" are not ignorant because they lack knowledge, no, the ignorant are those that act as if they do know despite the mountains of evidence to the contrary. Ignorance is the willfull avoidance of the costs of one's own delusions, thus the expression, "Ignorance is bliss." Reply Anonymous 4/6/11 Reply vedapushpa, Bangalore 4/7/11 Since the past three decades the world over 'disabiliy' of sorts has got the politically priveleged 'positive discrimination' human normalcy and human merit still further became the 'ignored' or 'avenged lot as it were.. 2 Reply Patrick Henry, Red Hill 5/16/17 Ignorance is perfected in the absence of understanding and insight.In itself, the acquisition of knowledge does not serve to relieve ignorance.Accordingly, to be salutary, the acquisition of knowledge must be a concomitant of the development of character. Reply Robert, Somewhere in the USA 5/16/17 Ignorance is bliss! Reply Ronw13, ID 1/20/23 Ignorance is the turning point, when the dog bites one in the butt. Reply Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 11/6/24 Well then, who'll be president? SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Daniel Boorstin quote is found in these categories: Education quotes Faith quotes Fear quotes Humor quotes Knowledge quotes Tolerance quotes Truth quotes Ignorance quotes About Daniel Boorstin Bio of Daniel Boorstin Quotations by Daniel Boorstin Books by/about Daniel Boorstin Daniel Boorstin videos Daniel Boorstin on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Daniel Boorstin