365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 306: On Ignoranc e

There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

306

Ignorance is a manifestation of laziness. Instead of actively choosing

to  expand  your  knowledge,  you  instead  choose  to  willfully  bypass  the

opportunity to educate yourself. A side effect of ignorance is the fostering

of negligence and laxity, two traits that are the opposite of what a successful

person should embrace in their life.

Disregarding  important  information  and  choosing  to  not  know  when

you do have access to education is like willfully asking for trouble.

Being  financially  illiterate,  for  example,  can  lead  to  economic

problems. Ignoring the needs of your partner — instead of learning about

what they need from you — can destroy your relationship. Ignorance of the

law can lead to prison. Ignoring new technologies and failing to learn about

relevant  modern  inventions  makes  you  less  relevant  in  your  professional

life.

Choose to be prepared rather than ignorant. Know too much instead of

too  little.  Practice  your  self-discipline  by  constantly  expanding  your

knowledge — and don’t discontinue your self-education when the truth is

uncomfortable or leads to difficult questions.

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