My thoughts this evening have continually gravitated to the oft-quoted phrase that "Ignorance is bliss." As for the accuracy of this statement, I have been a frequent flip-flopper. In conversation or discussion, when I have advocated the verity of this statement, I have consistently been contradicted on this point. Almost always, people respond that knowledge, even though it may hurt and seem detrimental at the time, will ultimately make one a stronger, better person. With so many people who deny this statement, it's a wonder it still even crosses my mind as reasonable. And yet, as I sit here on this night, the phrase "ignorance is bliss" comes to my mind yet again, and it appears to be for this reason. Those who respond negatively to this statement appear to be speaking of intellectual curiosity or projecting hopefulness in light of knowledge. As I began to contemplate the accuracy of this statement this evening, I began thinking about the thoughts and feeling of other people. If I could know the thoughts of all those people around me, would I be happy in my knowledge? Do I really want to know what those who dislike me or encounter me on a daily basis think as they interact with me? What about those I love? If I could know their thoughts or receive an honest answer for each question I sent their way, would it be painful, yet ultimately beneficial for me? I would imagine that most people would answer in the negative to such a question. But aren't these thoughts knowledge? How can such knowledge bring happiness? And yet, as one of my most frustrating flaws, I push the limits to these questions to know what people think about me. No matter what I learn, it has yet to be beneficial or helpful to me as a person. If anything, it has taught me that I don't know when to curtail my inquisitiveness for my own good. And so my thoughts shift. Why do I insist on knowing and being so sensitive to people's interaction with me? Why must I be liked and influenced negatively by people's estimations of me? Surely, this cannot be a healthy, even happy, thing. I must conclude that ignorance really is bliss. But once you know something, you cannot return to that ignorant state, no matter how much you may want.