"Ignorance is stubborn and prejudice is hard"

Adlai E. Stevenson’s assertion that “Ignorance is stubborn and prejudice is hard” speaks to the tenacity with which human beings cling to both a lack of knowledge and unfounded beliefs. Ignorance is not always a passive or innocent lack of information; there is often a resistance, whether conscious or unconscious, to learning or accepting new facts. Stubbornness, in the context of ignorance, implies a dogged refusal to question one’s assumptions, a turning away from opportunities to grow or expand one’s understanding. People frequently hold onto their ignorance because challenging it may require unsettling changes in worldview, admission of fallibility, or departure from the comfort of familiar certainty.

Equally, the hardness of prejudice refers to its impenetrability and durability. Prejudice, as opposed to ignorance, is not just about not knowing, it is the holding of opinions or feelings, often negative, toward individuals or groups based on limited, biased, or incorrect information. Prejudices become ingrained, forming a kind of mental armor that is impervious to logic or compassion. This hardness makes prejudice especially dangerous; it transforms mere misunderstanding into active discrimination and marginalization.

Both ignorance and prejudice, as Stevenson describes, are formidable barriers to empathy, social progress, and mutual understanding. They prevent dialog, inhibit curiosity, and allow misinformation to flourish. Genuine change, whether in individuals or societies, requires a willingness to confront both the stubbornness of ignorance and the hardness of prejudice. It requires humility, openness, and a readiness to be uncomfortable in the pursuit of truth and justice. Stevenson’s words challenge readers to recognize not only the existence but also the strength of these obstacles, and to approach the work of overcoming them with patience, perseverance, and courage. The task of breaking through stubborn ignorance and hard prejudice is slow and demanding, yet essential for a more just and enlightened society.