We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain

Hear the piercing wisdom of an ancient-sounding truth, from an author unnamed, who declared: “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” These words strike like a hammer against the iron of the human mind, awakening us to the difference between innocence and folly. Ignorance is the natural state of birth, for no child comes into the world knowing the mysteries of life. Yet stupidity is not the absence of knowledge but the willful rejection of it, the stubborn refusal to grow, the deliberate blinding of the eyes when light is offered.

The meaning of ignorance here is not shameful, but natural. A child begins in darkness, yet is filled with wonder and curiosity. Every word learned, every lesson grasped, every truth discovered, is a step toward wisdom. Ignorance is simply the beginning of the journey. But stupidity—that is a choice. It is the decision to close one’s ears to teaching, to refuse the guidance of experience, to turn away from truth because it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. Thus, while all are born ignorant, only the willfully blind remain stupid.

History itself bears witness to this. Consider the tale of Galileo, who with courage looked to the heavens and proclaimed that the earth moved around the sun. His discovery offered light, but many in power rejected it, preferring their comfortable illusions. Their ignorance could have been healed by knowledge, but their pride made them stupid, and they worked hard to silence truth. Yet the truth endured, and their stubbornness became a mark of folly across the ages.

On the other hand, let us remember Abraham Lincoln, who began life in poverty, with little schooling and scant opportunity. He was born ignorant, as all are, but he refused to remain so. By candlelight, he read and studied, teaching himself the law, the classics, and the ways of governance. His hunger for knowledge transformed him from a frontier boy into one of the greatest leaders in history. His life proves the teaching: ignorance is no curse, unless one clings to it. To seek wisdom is to rise; to refuse it is to fall.

The saying also reminds us that foolishness requires effort. To remain stupid, one must avoid reflection, reject correction, and close the mind to growth. It is easier to learn than to unlearn; easier to open one’s eyes than to keep them shut. Thus, stupidity is not laziness but a strange labor, the labor of denial, the toil of arrogance, the burden of pride. In this way, stupidity becomes a chain willingly clasped around one’s own neck.

The lesson is this: embrace your ignorance, but do not cling to it. Let it be the fertile soil into which seeds of wisdom may be planted. Be humble enough to admit what you do not know, and courageous enough to seek answers. Do not resist correction, but welcome it as the hand of a friend. To remain ignorant is natural; to become wise is noble; but to remain stupid is a tragedy, a wasting of the gift of life.

Therefore, beloved seekers, let your practice be this: learn daily, question boldly, and grow humbly. Never fear the beginning state of ignorance, for it is common to all. Fear instead the hardened heart that chooses stupidity. Read, listen, observe, and seek the truth, even when it challenges your pride. And remember always the eternal wisdom of this saying: though all are born ignorant, only the stubborn work hard to remain stupid. Choose instead the noble labor of wisdom, and your life will shine with light for generations to come.