Ignorance and wisdom
“A man remains ignorant because he loves ignorance, and chooses ignorant thoughts; a man becomes wise because he loves wisdom and chooses wise thoughts.”
— James Allen
Reflection
James Allen says a man remains ignorant because he loves ignorance and chooses to stay there. That sounds harsh until you realise he is talking about willful ignorance—the decision to avoid the effort, humility, or discomfort required to learn. When we cling to familiar but shallow views, we are not victims of darkness; we are choosing dim light.
True wisdom requires a willingness to be wrong, to be corrected, and to grow. That takes courage. It is easier to mock what we do not understand than to study it, easier to stay within a narrow circle of opinions than to listen deeply and test everything against truth. Allen calls us beyond that laziness into a life of active seeking.
Ignorance loves shortcuts and slogans. Wisdom loves questions and process. Ignorance resists feedback; wisdom invites it. Ignorance hardens into arrogance; wisdom softens into humility. The difference begins in thought: do you see yourself as a finished product, or as a lifelong student in God’s classroom?
The good news is that the door out of ignorance is always open. It swings on simple hinges: curiosity, teachability, and obedience to the truth you already know.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Identify one area where you have strong opinions but have done little real learning and commit to study it more deeply.
- Ask a trusted person for honest feedback in one area and receive it without defending yourself.
- Replace the thought “I already know” with “What can I learn here?” at least once today.
One Question To Ponder
Where might a love of comfort or certainty be keeping you from the wisdom God wants to give you?
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