--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is better without knowledge of things…" description: "\"Man is better without knowledge of things to come, for what is to be will be, and man can neither avert nor hasten. It is better to go in the dark when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-e-howard-3742_avert_man-is-better-without-knowledge-of-thing_2342889.jpg" --- # Man is better without knowledge of things to come, for… ![“Man is better without knowledge of things to come, for what is to be will be, and man can neither avert nor hasten. It is better to go in the dark when the road must pass a lion and there is no other road.” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-e-howard-3742_avert_man-is-better-without-knowledge-of-thing_2342889.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-e-howard-3742_avert_man-is-better-without-knowledge-of-thing_2342889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/robert-e-howard-3742_avert_man-is-better-without-knowledge-of-thing_2342889.jpg) > “Man is better without knowledge of things to come, for what is to be will be, and man can neither avert nor hasten. It is better to go in the dark when the road must pass a lion and there is no other road.” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance of the future is preferable; fate unfolds regardless, and confronting unknown dangers is inevitable. **In simple terms:** Better not to know the future; fate is fixed. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and act courageously. Themes fate ignorance courage Mood reflective adventurous Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - exploration - risk assessment - personal decision making Key Concepts determinism existentialism adventure Questions to Reflect On - How do you face unknown challenges? - What role does fate play in your choices? A Different Perspective Denial of future knowledge can hinder preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avert/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Hasten Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hasten-better-5675824/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [Man Avert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-avert-5675823/) [Man Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-better-274043/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pass Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass-lion-3555979/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to go in the dark when the road must pass a lion and there is no other road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/it-is-better-to-go-in-the-dark-when-the-road-must-pass-a-lion-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Unless we establish some form of world government, it will not be possible for us to avert a World War III in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/unless-we-establish-some-form-of-world-government-it-will-not-be/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [In time of trouble avert not thy face from hope, for the soft marrow abideth in the hard bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez/in-time-of-trouble-avert-not-thy-face-from-hope-for-the-soft-marrow/) [Hafez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez/) > [Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet. 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A visible danger rouses our energies to meet or avert it; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/our-courage-is-greater-to-dare-a-visible-than-an-imagined-danger-a/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [This is the message of your life and my life - it’s that nothing lasts. Heraclitus said it: Panta Rhei. All flows, nothing lasts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/this-is-the-message-of-your-life-and-my-life-it-s-that-nothing-lasts/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. 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Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## More Avert quotes > [This is the message of your life and my life - it’s that nothing lasts. Heraclitus said it: Panta Rhei. All flows, nothing lasts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/this-is-the-message-of-your-life-and-my-life-it-s-that-nothing-lasts/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our courage is greater to dare a visible than an imagined danger. 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At no other time in history has there been such mass disillusionment in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/we-live-in-a-very-special-time-right-now-at-no-other-time-in-history/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Sex cannot be understood because nature cannot be understood. Science is a method of logical analysis of nature's operations. It has lessened human anxiety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille/sex-cannot-be-understood-because-nature-cannot-be-understood-science/) [Camille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille/) > [We cannot avert our eyes without staining our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/we-cannot-avert-our-eyes-without-staining-our-souls/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet. 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