I am looking for a phrase which completes the sentence with following meaning.
Ignorance is bliss but its consequence is disastrous.
I came up with its consequence is disastrous.
Is there any known phrase or proverb close to this meaning?
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1Can't think of a well-known one, so won't answer, but if extending the "ignorance is bliss" I'd perhaps turn it so that its the bliss that gets blamed; "ignorance is bliss, but bliss can be dangerous" or some such.– Jon HannaSep 20, 2017 at 20:15
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Yours and @JonHanna 's are both very good! You could also consider combining it with other "ignorance" quotes, like "... but it 's [still] not a virtue." or "... but it [still] excuses no one/not."– Papa PouleSep 20, 2017 at 20:28
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1Ignorance of the law is no excuse is an actual idiomatic phrase.– Arm the good guys in AmericaSep 20, 2017 at 20:30
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1@Clare OH wow. You just connected things in my head and I'm totally going to use "ignorance of the law isn't bliss" or something similar in a political context soon. Thanks!– Jon HannaSep 20, 2017 at 20:41
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@Clare it's also a fact.– BruceWayneSep 21, 2017 at 0:02
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1 Answer
From Thomas Gray's poem, Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1742)
the actual full phrase...
"—where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise." (Thomas Grey Archive)
Many compare this with the phrase: "What you don't know can't hurt you"
I prefer Ricky Gervais' take:
"Ignorance is bliss. But only for the ignorant."
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But only for the ignorant. That's a good one. What should we call it ? A satire ?– RahulSep 21, 2017 at 2:24