The Wisdom of “What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt You”

In our continuing series about the stuff that “THEY” have taught us, let’s take a closer look at the popular saying, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” Really?

When I was growing up, “THEY” were full of idioms and would share them with me as “points of learning.” The two phrases that I remember being repeated often were, “ignorance is bliss” and “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.” They seemed to go hand in hand, and I began to believe that there were things in life I was better off not knowing. I bought into the concept, but as I grew older and wiser (I hope), I started to see the flaws in this supposed logic.

Historical Context vs. Reality

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, the oldest written version of the saying “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” dates back to 1576, in Petit Palace by G. Pettie: “So long as I know it not, it hurteth me not.” While the saying has historical roots, recent practical experience, as well as empirical research, suggest the opposite — that what you don’t know can, in fact, hurt you.

Real-World Consequences of Ignorance

I recently met with a prospective client who shared his search for a new insurance agent. We had a similar story about overpaying for coverages that we never used. Neither of us knowingly made this mistake — we just didn’t know. Was it fatal? No. Was it costly? Yes!

Similarly, we hear stories in the news of people making “stupid mistakes” that lead to injuries or even death. Did they do it knowingly? Likely not. There are things that we all don’t know. For example, I don’t know how to work with electricity. If I tried, I could get hurt — but how can that be possible if “THEY” are right?

At our office, we often encounter clients who think they are doing everything correctly, but after a closer look, we find that they’re not. Ignorance is not bliss. Not knowing how much you should be paying in taxes won’t earn you any favors with the IRS. There are strategies that could allow you to save more for retirement — but if you don’t know about them, it won’t kill you. However, it may make your retirement more financially challenging. The bottom line is this: it’s what you don’t know that will hurt you.

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