Origin
The actual wording, comes from Thomas Gray’s poem, “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College” (1742): “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.”
Explanation
If knowing something makes you unhappy, it would be better not to know it. For example, a poor father knows that his son would no longer be alive, at the same time he knows that, by telling this he would sadden his son much more; certainly, he would not let the son know about it. If knowledge brings unhappiness, it’s better to be ignorant. Lack of knowledge results in happiness; it is more comfortable not to know certain things. So ignorance and innocence do have benefits. Innocence allows you to dream unhindered by the reality that surrounds you and is changing every day as older generations die and obsolete ideas fade away. And ignorance allows you to try things without second guessing yourself or believing because it hasn’t been done before it can’t be done.
Example
Ellen: The doctor didn’t tell dad that mom probably won’t recover from her illness. Do you think we should tell him?
Bill: No. It would only make him unhappy and ruin their last months together. Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.
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