On Ignorance (-1599)

"This, therefore, is mathematics: she reminds you of the invisible form of the soul; she gives to her own discoveries; she awakens the mind and purifies the intellect; she brings light to our intrinsic ideas; she abolishes oblivion and ignorance which are ours by birth." (Proclus Lycaeus, cca 5th century)

"I know that the common herd of physicians, like the vulgar, if there happen to have been any innovation made about that day, such as the bath being used, a walk taken, or any unusual food eaten, all which were better done than otherwise, attribute notwithstanding the cause of these disorders, to some of these things, being ignorant of the true cause, but proscribing what may have been very proper." (Hippocrates, "On the Sacred Disease", cca 400 BC)

"The disease called Sacred [...] appears to me to be nowise more divine nor more sacred than other diseases, but has the natural cause from which it originates like other affections. Men regard its nature and cause as divine from ignorance and wonder, because it is not at all like to other disease." (Hippocrates, "On the Sacred Disease", cca 400 BC)

"If I am given a formula, and I am ignorant of its meaning, it cannot teach me anything, but if I already know it what does the formula teach me?" (Saint Augustine of Hippo , "De Magistro", 389)

"The truth of voice perishes with the sound; truth latent in the mind is hidden wisdom and invisible treasure; but the truth which illuminates books desires to manifest itself to every disciplinable sense. Let us consider how great a commodity of doctrine exists in books, - how easily, how secretly, how safely, they expose the nakedness of human ignorance without putting it to shame. These are the masters that instruct us without rods and ferules, without hard words and anger, without clothes or money. If you approach them, they are not asleep; if, investigating, you interrogate them, they conceal nothing; if you mistake them, they never grumble; if you are ignorant, they cannot laugh at you." (Richard de Burry, "Philobiblon", 1344)

"[...] the greatest point of all ignorance, not to know the goossenes of ignorance, and not to understand the benefite of knowledge [...]" (Robert Recorde, "The Castle of Knowledge", 1556)