“In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant”
— Stephen Colbert
Simplified Meaning:
To believe in something that is obviously wrong or untrue, you must choose to ignore the facts and evidence that prove otherwise. Imagine someone insisting the Earth is flat despite mountains of scientific evidence showing it's round. To keep saying the Earth is flat, they would have to dismiss all the photos, videos, and expert research that clearly show the Earth is a sphere. This act of turning a blind eye to the truth—on purpose—is what it means to be "actively ignorant." In everyday life, this could be like a person refusing to believe smoking is bad for health despite knowing many studies and seeing real people suffer from smoking-related diseases. If someone understands this and still acts as if the harm doesn't exist, they are ignoring the truth to keep up their belief. Admitting when you're wrong and learning from it can help you grow and make better choices in life.
