“Ignorance is always preferable to delusion”
— Yuval Noah Harari
Simplified Meaning:
Believing in something false is worse than not knowing anything about it at all. Imagine someone is completely clueless about a topic, like a complex science subject. They don't know anything, but at least they are aware of their lack of knowledge. Now, think of someone else who believes in incorrect information about the same topic. They might confidently make wrong decisions based on their false beliefs, which can lead to problems. For example, not knowing how to drive is better than thinking you know how to drive when you actually don't have the right skills. If you know you can't drive, you'll ask for help or avoid driving, which is safer. But if you wrongly believe you can drive, you might get behind the wheel and cause an accident. So, it's better to admit you don't know something and learn or seek help rather than to be misled by false ideas. This idea can be applied to many areas in life, like making informed choices about health, finances, or relationships. By recognizing what you don't know, you can find the right information or guidance and make better decisions.