“Your ignorance is their power”

“Your ignorance is their power” is a political saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1978, but became popular on many images (such as bumper stickers and T-shirts) since about 2000.
 
   
Google Books
Marketing through the Japanese Distribution System
By Randolph Ernest Ross
Hamilton, ON: Faculty of Business, McMaster University
1978  
Pg. 9:
In this quest the Japanese middlemen are typically not very helpful since they understand, like their counterparts in many other countries, that your ignorance is their power.
   
Google Books
Some Eminent Indian Editors
By India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division
New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India
1981
Pg. 81:
If the government is powerful remember it has become so with your own support. The strength of the government is because of differences amongst yourselves. Your weakness is the Government’s strength. And your ignorance is their power.
 
Google Groups: misc.activism.progressive
Community Newsletter - Jan 23
john vance
1/23/00
“THERE IS NO WAY TO PEACE, PEACE IS THE WAY”
A.J. Muste
============================
“Your ignorance is their power”
       
Google Groups: alt.music.new-order
Top 10 albums of the year
AJ Wells
12/9/01
(...)
It sounds like the esteemed poster is just a little disappointed in himself for being such a lazy listener… which is understandable… this culture encourages lazy listening and lack of discernment in general… as they say, your ignorance is their power
 
14 September 2006, Green Bay (WI) Press Gazette, “Community Views,” pg. A7:
STURGEON BAY—“Your ignorance is their power”—five simple words that explain the important role our media play in fully and truthfully informing the public.
 
Twitter
casnow‏
@casnow
Bumper sticker on my way to work: your ignorance is their power.
10:29 AM - 16 Oct 2008
 
2 November 2008, The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA), “As election day nears, youths often ask best questions” by Mike Berry, pg. B1:
Mike Berry retired from Healdsburg High, but still teaches two classes.
There is a statement that hung in my classroom for many of the 45 years I taught social studies.
 
“Your ignorance is their power.”
 
As I consider the future of our students on the eve of this presidential election, my mind and my heart are filled with this message.
   
Twitter
Kathy Schuetz‏
@kschuetz
Your ignorance is their power: health illiteracy can kill you. #hcmd09
9:21 AM - 19 Jun 2009
 
Twitter
P Mimi Poinsett MD‏
@yayayarndiva
Your ignorance is their power- seen on a car bumper in Petaluma CA
7:23 PM - 4 Aug 2009
 
Google Books
The Rise of Lifestyle Activism:
From New Left to Occupy

By Nikos Sotirakopoulos
New York, NY: Springer
2016
Pg. 143:
As the t-shirt of a protester declared, ‘your ignorance is their power’ (fieldwork notes).
     
Facebook
Blacktivist
December 6, 2016 ·
Your ignorance is their power. Knowledge is your power. Grab it and use it right.
 
Me.Me
YOUR IGNORANCE IS THEIR POWER TUKKER BARNES EPHESIANS 612 FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES AGAINST POWERS AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES JESUSISTHEWAYTHETRUTHANDTHELIFE SPIRITUALWARFARE TUKKIT WORDSOFWISDOM IGNORANCEISBLISS KNOWYOURENEMY QUOTE KNOWLEDGEISKEY MEME
MEMES WRESTLING PRINCIPAL RULER 🤖 BLOOD THE DARKNESS THE DARK SPIRITUALIZED BARN WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES WRESTLE QUOTS SPIRITUALITY IGNORANCY
FOUND @ 32 LIKES ON 2017-01-14 22:13:25 BY ME.ME
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM
 
Twitter
Six Word Stories‏
@ernest6words
Remember, your ignorance is their power. #WednesdayWisdom #quotes #ernest6words #sixwordstories
5:49 AM - 18 Jan 2017