I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.

The line contrasts two kinds of “awe”: the wonder that comes from learning how something works versus the dazzlement that comes from not knowing. It argues that explanation does not diminish beauty; rather, understanding can deepen and refine wonder by replacing vague mystique with informed appreciation. Implicitly, it critiques romanticized anti-intellectualism—the idea that mystery is preferable to knowledge—and aligns awe with curiosity, science, and clear thinking. The speaker’s preference “any day” frames this as an ethical and aesthetic choice: to value comprehension, evidence, and inquiry over superstition or willful ignorance, without denying the emotional power of astonishment.