There’s None So Blind As They That Won’t See

It would be one thing to say “There’s none as blind as those who cannot see.” This would simply state that those lacking physical sight are the most blind. However, by saying “There’s none so blind as they that won’t see” (Jonathan Swift) the meaning completely shifts.

The word “won’t” implies choice, intention, and agency. It suggests that some people possess the full capability for sight and awareness, yet intentionally choose not to use it. The blindness shifts from physical to willful, from inability to stubborn refusal.

This quote therefore highlights how those who deliberately ignore facts, truths, and realities right in front of them are far more impaired than those who want to see clearly but cannot. It is an active denial, not just an unfortunate circumstance. The blindness resides not in the eyes, but in the mind and heart.

By using “won’t” instead of “can’t,” the quote calls out those who possess the means for sight yet defiantly choose blindness out of ulterior motives like prejudice, fear, laziness, or fixed ideologies. Their refusal reflects close-mindedness and intentional self-delusion. This makes their blindness in some ways less excusable and more severe.

So in short, the use of “won’t” powerfully conveys the agency and responsibility behind willful blindness. It distinguishes it from unavoidable sightlessness, underscores how it reflects stubborn barriers within, and suggests that overcoming such blindness depends on increased honesty, courage, and openness to confronting hard truths.