ProverbHuman NatureJapanese origin

知らぬが仏 (Shiranu ga hotoke)

Meaning: Not knowing about a trouble keeps you at peace.

Literally: Not knowing is Buddha

Example: “彼に本当の値段は言わない方がいい。知らぬが仏だよ。” — Better not tell him the real price: ignorance is bliss.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and 4 more languages

  • English: What the eye sees not, the heart rues not.
  • French: Ce qu'œil ne voit, au cœur ne deult (literally: What the eye does not see does not grieve the heart)
  • Spanish: Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente (literally: Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel)
  • German: Was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß (literally: What I don't know doesn't make me hot)
  • Italian: Occhio che non vede, cuore che non duole (literally: An eye that doesn't see, a heart that doesn't ache)
  • Portuguese: O que os olhos não veem, o coração não sente (literally: What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel)
  • Dutch: Wat het oog niet ziet, het hart niet deert (literally: What the eye doesn't see doesn't hurt the heart)
  • Polish: Czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal (literally: What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't miss)
  • Chinese: 眼不见,心不烦 (Yǎn bú jiàn, xīn bù fán) (literally: What the eye doesn't see doesn't trouble the heart)

Origin: Hotoke is a Buddha: whoever knows nothing stays as serene as one.

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