“Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if they be accompanied by a bad training, are a much greater misfortune.”
- 427 BC – 347 BC
- Born in Athens, ancient Greece
- Philosopher, scholar, founder of the Academy
- A student of Socrates, his works include “The Republic” and “The Symposium,” and he had a major influence on Western philosophy with his ideas and philosopher-rulership.
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Quote
“Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if they be accompanied by a bad training, are a much greater misfortune.”
Explanation
In this quote, Plato suggests that ignorance, while undesirable, is not the greatest evil a person can face. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, but it does not inherently lead to moral corruption or harm. However, Plato warns that the combination of cleverness and much learning can be far more dangerous if it is not coupled with proper moral education and good training. He argues that intellectual capability and education, when guided by bad principles or immoral behavior, can lead to far worse outcomes, as individuals with great knowledge but poor moral foundations can misuse their abilities in harmful ways.
This idea connects to Plato’s belief in the importance of education not just in acquiring facts or technical skills, but in shaping the character of the individual. In *The Republic*, he argues that wisdom and virtue should be cultivated together, as knowledge without moral guidance can lead to destructive behavior. A person who is intellectually brilliant but lacks virtue can cause great harm, as they might use their cleverness for selfish, manipulative, or unethical purposes.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the idea that knowledge alone is not enough to ensure wisdom or goodness. Intellectual development must be paired with ethical education to avoid the potential dangers of misusing knowledge. It encourages us to balance intellectual growth with the development of moral character and to recognize that the combination of cleverness and bad training can be a far greater misfortune than simple ignorance.
