"Our lives are universally shortened by our ignorance"

This quote by Herbert Spencer speaks with the idea that our lives are restricted by our lack of knowledge. He suggests that if we had more understanding, we would be able to extend our lives. This could be interpreted in a couple of different ways. On a physical level, if we had more knowledge about health and nutrition, we could make much better decisions that would cause a longer life. On a spiritual level, if we had more knowledge about our function in life, we might make decisions that would result in a more meaningful life. On a mental level, if we had more understanding about the world around us, we might make decisions that would cause a more fulfilling life. Eventually, Spencer is recommending that our lives are limited by our absence of knowledge, which if we had more understanding, we might extend our lives.