Knowing Others Is Wisdom, Knowing Oneself Is Enlightenment
More than 3,000 years ago, three inscriptions were carved at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece:
- Know thyself. (ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΑΥΤΟΝ)
- Nothing in excess. (ΜΗΔΕΝ ΑΓΑΝ)
- Surety brings ruin. (ΕΓΓΥΑ, ΠΑΡΑ ΔΑΤΗ)
The Delphic maxims were considered the spiritual pillars of the Greeks and are sometimes attributed to Socrates.
Socrates believed himself to be ignorant. This “ignorance” meant being wary of authoritative conclusions and maintaining a skeptical mindset. However, the “divine” oracle (here, “divine” refers to the words of the oracle conveyed by the temple priests) proclaimed that no one was wiser than him.
To verify his own “ignorance,” he specifically sought out three types of people:
- Political figures who led the city-state;
- Writers with many followers;
- Artisans with professional skills.
He ultimately discovered that while these individuals might have been outstanding in their respective fields, this often led them to believe they were exceptionally clever, omniscient, and prone to expressing opinions—even influencing others—on various other matters.
Socrates’ final conclusion was: the divine oracle said I am wise, perhaps because I know that I am ignorant; others are just as ignorant as I am, but they think they know, believing themselves superior to others even in matters outside their expertise.
In youth, we possess a natural ignorance of the world, which leads to blind confidence or even arrogance. However, with accumulated experience and broadened horizons through reading, we increasingly realize our true ignorance. This “ignorance” is a sense of awe towards the universe, a humility in perceiving our own insignificance—merely a grain of sand in the vast ocean.
It’s difficult for people to have a clear understanding of themselves. Firstly, many people may need a long time to genuinely consider self-reflection and introspection. Secondly, even if they begin self-discovery, they may not truly understand themselves. This process, in my view, accompanies a person throughout their life.
As an ancient saying goes, “A person’s true worth lies in self-awareness,” originating from the Tao Te Ching: “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing oneself is enlightenment.”
This reminds me of Ding Yuanying’s knowledgeable ignorance towards Xiao Dan, which I deeply admire.
In life and work, we should trust professionals but also dare to be critical. The same applies to reading: to believe everything written in books is worse than not reading at all.