--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is confidently expected that the…" description: "\"It is confidently expected that the period is at hand, when man, through ignorance, shall not much longer inflict unnecessary misery on man; because th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/robert-owen-17328_acting_it-is-confidently-expected-that-the-peri_1410832.png" --- # It is confidently expected that the period is at hand… ![“It is confidently expected that the period is at hand, when man, through ignorance, shall not much longer inflict unnecessary misery on man; because the mass of mankind will become enlightened, and will clearly discern that by so acting they will inevitably create misery to themselves.” quote by Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/robert-owen-17328_acting_it-is-confidently-expected-that-the-peri_1410832.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/robert-owen-17328_acting_it-is-confidently-expected-that-the-peri_1410832.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/robert-owen-17328_acting_it-is-confidently-expected-that-the-peri_1410832.png) > “It is confidently expected that the period is at hand, when man, through ignorance, shall not much longer inflict unnecessary misery on man; because the mass of mankind will become enlightened, and will clearly discern that by so acting they will inevitably create misery to themselves.” [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human ignorance causes suffering; enlightenment will reveal that harming others harms ourselves. **In simple terms:** Ignorance leads to misery; knowledge prevents it. Key Takeaway Promote education to reduce suffering. Themes social justice education humanity Mood hopeful urgent Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - community building Key Concepts enlightenment self‑interest collective welfare Questions to Reflect On - What steps can societies take toward enlightenment? - How does self‑interest align with collective good? A Different Perspective Education alone may not change entrenched behaviors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Enlightened Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-clearly-4971374/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Expected Period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-period-4971373/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-shall-1469989/) [Man Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-ignorance-542925/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-enlightened-2084261/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary/) ## Related quotes > [As mankind becomes more enlightened to know their real interests, they will esteem the value of agriculture; they will find it in their natural--their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/as-mankind-becomes-more-enlightened-to-know-their-real-interests-they/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Ah! destructive Ignorance, what shall be done to chase thee out of the World!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/ah-destructive-ignorance-what-shall-be-done-to-chase-thee-out-of-the/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [It has been the scheme of the Christian Church, and of all the other invented systems of religion, to hold man in ignorance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-scheme-of-the-christian-church-and-of-all-the-other/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“O The irony of man of ignorance; haughtinesses; and tyranny , he thinks he's past generation did not repeat the same way of harming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-gentlemen/o-the-irony-of-man-of-ignorance-haughtinesses-and-tyranny-he-thinks/) [A Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-gentlemen/) > [The more one thinks, the more one feels the hopeless immensity of man's ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-more-one-thinks-the-more-one-feels-the-hopeless-immensity-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Spontaneity is only a term for man's ignorance of the gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/spontaneity-is-only-a-term-for-man-s-ignorance-of-the-gods/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Ignorance the coke man, ignorance is bliss, ignorance is love and I need that shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/ignorance-the-coke-man-ignorance-is-bliss-ignorance-is-love-and-i/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [Insults sting but a little when they stem from a man's ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/insults-sting-but-a-little-when-they-stem-from-a-man-s-ignorance/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [“How merciful a thing is man's ignorance of his immediate future! What a ghastly, paralysing thing it would have been if all those present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/how-merciful-a-thing-is-man-s-ignorance-of-his-immediate-future-what/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [“A man’s ignorance sometimes is not only useful, but beautiful, while his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless beside being ugly. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-s-ignorance-sometimes-is-not-only-useful-but-beautiful-while-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Human values are born with man. They are not got from outside. Man in his ignorance is not aware of these values. when man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/human-values-are-born-with-man-they-are-not-got-from-outside-man-in/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [A man's ignorance sometimes is not only useful, but beautiful-while his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless, besides being ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-s-ignorance-sometimes-is-not-only-useful-but-beautiful-while/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The extent of a man's ignorance is not measured in what he does not know, but in what he refuses to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-extent-of-a-man-s-ignorance-is-not-measured-in-what-he-does-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man's ignorance of the Law of Love in personal and world relationships will not serve as an excuse to save him from disaster. Wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/man-s-ignorance-of-the-law-of-love-in-personal-and-world/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [The men on the trading floor may not have been to school, but they have Ph.D.’s in man’s ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-men-on-the-trading-floor-may-not-have-been-to-school-but-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert Owen > [Eight hours daily labour is enough for any human being, and under proper arrangements sufficient to afford an ample supply of food, raiment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/eight-hours-daily-labour-is-enough-for-any-human-being-and-under/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [We may look through ancient and modern history, yet scarce find a sovereign to whom God offered the privilege of bestowing on humanity a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/we-may-look-through-ancient-and-modern-history-yet-scarce-find-a/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [You may depend upon it that they are as good hearts to serve men in palaces as in cottages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/you-may-depend-upon-it-that-they-are-as-good-hearts-to-serve-men-in/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [There is but one mode by which man can possess in perpetuity all the happiness which his nature is capable of enjoying, — that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/there-is-but-one-mode-by-which-man-can-possess-in-perpetuity-all-the/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Never argue, repeat your assertion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/never-argue-repeat-your-assertion/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [“All the world is queer save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/all-the-world-is-queer-save-thee-and-me-and-even-thou-art-a-little/) [robert owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [God and the Doctor we alike adore But only when in danger, not before; The danger o'er, both are alike requited, God is forgotten,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/god-and-the-doctor-we-alike-adore-but-only-when-in-danger-not-before/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Chastity is sexual intercourse with affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/chastity-is-sexual-intercourse-with-affection/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [To train and educate the rising generation will at all times be the first object of society, to which every other will be subordinate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/to-train-and-educate-the-rising-generation-will-at-all-times-be-the/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Women will be no longer made the slaves of, or dependent upon men...They will be equal in education, rights, privileges and personal liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/women-will-be-no-longer-made-the-slaves-of-or-dependent-upon-men-they/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/society-may-be-formed-so-as-to-exist-without-crime-without-poverty/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Finding that no religion was based upon facts, but that all of them were in opposition to facts, and could not therefore be true,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/finding-that-no-religion-was-based-upon-facts-but-that-all-of-them/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [My life was not useless; I gave important truths to the world, and it was only for want of understanding that they were disregarded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/my-life-was-not-useless-i-gave-important-truths-to-the-world-and-it/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Man is the creature of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/man-is-the-creature-of-circumstances/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Where are these rational practices to be taught and acquired? Not within the four walls of a bare building, in which formality predominates... But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/where-are-these-rational-practices-to-be-taught-and-acquired-not/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) [Explore all 37 Robert Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. 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Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. 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