“I’ve always thought that when they say ignorance is bliss, the converse to that is that knowledge is hell. The more you know, the bleaker things can get.” —Terence Winter
“If ignorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face.” —RATM (Zack de la Rocha)
“Try not to fear what you do not understand. Be open and allow yourself to learn new things in life. Ignorance is truly NOT bliss.”
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“Knowledge is a dangerous thing. But ignorance is no protection.”
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To live in a perpetual state of casual acceptance—with balanced emotional responses to the world’s unending barrage of infuriating, perturbing, and unnerving information—must feel like everlasting liberation. To be free of the anger and frustration born from each reaction to the often unbelievable (and now too typical) shitstorm of flashing lights, propaganda, and the singing/dancing cartoon characters populating the modern media landscape would feel like the sudden, striking release of decades of neck tension and shoulder pain.
But acting like an ostrich to block out the static won’t clear the channels or smooth the sound.
Given the choice between intellectual heavy lifting and effortless idiocy, I’ll choose the former every time.
The aim of human existence should not be to simply float in a velvety bubble of uninterrupted leisure. The easiest possible path is generally the least rewarding.
Muscles are sore from extensive use because they’re growing. The same can be said of our brains, our perspective, and our desire to seek anything that feels foreign, challenging, or uncomfortable.
Get mad. Get engaged. Get going.
Question the status quo, demand evidence, and refuse to blindly acquiesce. Passivity is not noble. Gallantry is a gift.
Read. Read. Read. Learn. Learn. Learn.
We have more than enough sheep…but far too few shepherds.
Solitary Alignment 