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Isaac Asimov
(2 Jan 1920 - 6 Apr 1992)
Russian-American writer and biochemist who was a prolific author and editor of science fiction and non-fiction.
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Isaac Asimov Quotes on Ignorance (12 quotes)
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>> Click for 265 Science Quotes by Isaac Asimov
>> Click for Isaac Asimov Quotes on | Belief | Biography | Creationist | Death | Fear | Knowledge | Life | Science | Scientist | Solution | Theory | Understanding | Universe |
Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.
— Isaac Asimov
In 'The Deadly Information', Introduction written by Asimov for James Randi, Flim-Flam (1982), xiii.
Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly.
— Isaac Asimov
In The Roving Mind (1983), 26.
Increasingly, our leaders must deal with dangers that threaten the entire world, where an understanding of those dangers and the possible solutions depends on a good grasp of science. The ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, acid rain, questions of diet and heredity. All require scientific literacy. Can Americans choose the proper leaders and support the proper programs if they themselves are scientifically illiterate? The whole premise of democracy is that it is safe to leave important questions to the court of public opinion—but is it safe to leave them to the court of public ignorance?
— Isaac Asimov
In Los Angeles Times (31 Mar 1989).
It was not until 1901 that humanity knew that nuclear energy existed. It is understandable now—but useless—to wish that we still lived in the ignorance of 1900.
— Isaac Asimov
Epigraph in Isaac Asimov’s Book of Science and Nature Quotations (1988), 176.
Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know—and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use it to destroy ourselves? Even if that is so, knowledge remains better than ignorance. It is better to know—even if the knowledge endures only for the moment that comes before destruction—than to gain eternal life at the price of a dull and swinish lack of comprehension of a universe that swirls unseen before us in all its wonder. That was the choice of Achilles, and it is mine, too.
— Isaac Asimov
Widely seen on the Web, but always without citation, so regard attribution as uncertain. Webmaster has not yet found reliable verification. Contact Webmaster if you know a primary print source.
The whole premise of democracy is that it is safe to leave important questions to the court of public opinion—but is it safe to leave them to the court of public ignorance?
— Isaac Asimov
In 'Combatting U.S. Scientific Illiteracy', Los Angeles Times (31 Mar 1989).
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”
— Isaac Asimov
In 'A Cult of Ignorance', Newsweek (21 Jan 1980), 19. As cited in Igor Ž. Žagar and Polona Kelava, From Formal to Non-Formal: Education, Learning and Knowledge (2014), 74.
Though science can cause problems, it is not by ignorance that we will solve them.
— Isaac Asimov
…...
To introduce something altogether new would mean to begin all over, to become ignorant again, and to run the old, old risk of failing to learn.
— Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov, Patricia S. Warrick, Martin Harry Greenberg, Machines That Think: The Best Science Fiction Stories About Robots and Computers? (1984), 2.
To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today.
— Isaac Asimov
In The Roving Mind (1983), 6.
Until I became a published writer, I remained completely ignorant of books on how to write and courses on the subject ... they would have spoiled my natural style; made me observe caution; would have hedged me with rules.
— Isaac Asimov
In Isaac Asimov and Janet Asimov (ed.), It's Been a Good Life (2002), 38.
While knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
— Isaac Asimov
In Asimov's New Guide to Science (1984), 15.
See also:
- 2 Jan - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Asimov's birth.
- Isaac Asimov - context of quote “It’s the bees and the flowers.” - Medium image (500 x 250 px)
- Isaac Asimov - context of quote “It’s the bees and the flowers.” - Large image (800 x 400 px)
- Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery, by Isaac Asimov. - book suggestion.
- Booklist for Isaac Asimov.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
