ignorance is bliss - which do you prefer - power or happiness?

"The famous phrase scientia potentia est is a Latin maxim "For also knowledge itself is power" stated originally by Francis Bacon in Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased as "knowledge is power." The phrase implies that with knowledge or education one's potential or abilities in life will certainly increase. It is also used as a justification for a reluctance to share information as some form of advantage can be gained through the use or manipulation of knowledge. It is possible that Bacon was paraphrasing Proverbs 24:5: "A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength." Another possible meaning for this phrase can be found in philosophical idealism - if the world exists solely as the content of consciousness, then knowledge itself can be used to directly manipulate the content of reality." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientia_potentia_est This is often true. However, power is nothing without control... Actually, some people concentrate on knowledge and others concentrate on power. Many of those who have just knowledge don't have a lot of power themselves. But those who already have power get more power when they get also some knowledge.

Of course it it true - but it is not the only source of power. If two armies are equally matched, but one knows the others movements while the other is in ignorance, the power is obvious. Likewise, knowledge of financial movements can be converted into money, which is crystallized power. But the power delivered by knowledge can be trumped by other forms of power.

Ya it can be true,but also depends what you do with that knowledge.Do you use it or not? Makes a difference.

according to All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, knowledge is power, but anything worth knowing will be paid with blood. You have to know, you just never know if knowing will save you or kill you.

In keeping with mi2213's answer, consider movie director Robert Rodriguez. There were many a moment when the man had close to zero dollars when filming and cutting his first feature-length film, El Mariachi. The movie cost him about $5,000 to make. He used what he knew to cut this film - the lay of the land (Mexico), film aesthetics, direction, and everything else I know little or nothing about regarding film making. It paved his way for better opportunity. But the road wasn't paved with gold from the onset. He submitted his body for live experimental drug trials for the money to put his movie together, a movie he didn't know would lead him to stardom. According to his book, Rebel Without A Crew, he still bears the scars from those days as a post grad film maker.

alvin toffler in power-shift writes knowledge is power,but to win knowledge has to ally itself with force or money.

I have seen the use of this phrase used effectively to deliver lessons to students, making them award of how their lessons will help them in life. Teachers show how even the youngest child can help the environment of the world by turning off the faucet after washing his hands. Children, though powerless in not being able to vote can learn they have power to change the world in using the tiniest bit of knowledge effectively. Therefore, I agree!