I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing. The quote of Socrates is an opened door to think and analyze. There are so many interpretations & discussions. It interprets into so many meanings. What do we know from this phrase? There is no significant explanation from Socrates regarding to the quote, I know that I know nothing. Actually, it is derived from his disciple, Plato.

Think about yourself; deeply and honestly. What do you know? Do you know everything? Are they perfect? Have you ever felt that you are nothing? Did not you update the knowledge, which was outdated or false? Look around you and see how people act like they know everything. We all like to show that we are perfect, wise and we know all. Practically, we fight with our inner sense due insufficient. Literally, it seems like cover up story.

Philosophy is bulk of questions in order to know. When we question more & deeper, we can gain more knowledge or wisdom. There will not conclusion, but searching & questions. If you come to conclusions, it would open another door to search more. Do you get my point? Well, look at the kids. They always ask questions. Why they want to know and they are not shy to questions? We, adults reach certain level of knowledge and satisfy ourselves. But, remember they journey to the knowledge is very long.

Does the phrase indicate that Socrates did not know anything? Great Greek philosopher paved the way for searching. If the great philosopher was able to say I know that I know nothing, how far I would say? An example: I know that tomorrow I will travel to New York. All pre arrangements are well prepared. There is NO possibility of cancelling schedule or travelling. Actually, I assume and I have faith. What will happen if I die tonight? Did I know that tomorrow I will not travel to New York?

I know that I know nothing


I know that I know nothing

I have heard that mediators meditate this phrase to become humble person by reducing ego, which wants to act ‘I know everything’. When you start to reject opinions, suggestions, advices & knowledge, understand that you are missing so many things, which cannot gain just though college degree. Even you can learn from mad person. The world is full of knowledge. You can get from it when you open to hear.

I remember a Zen story, which tells how ego puts obstacle to knowledge. A professor visited to monastery to know about Zen. The Zen master was serving tea while discussing. The master was pouring tea into cup. Tea reached to the brim, and then master kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing and he could not control his feeling. "Oh, look at. It's overflowing. You can’t pour in". The professor was confused. "Yes! You are like this tea cup", the monk said, "How can I teach you Zen knowledge unless you empty your cup?"

We feel we know everything. This is ego driven pre-idea. If we know yourself and our limits, we can say "I know that I know nothing".

I know that I know nothing
I know that I know nothing
  • Wikipedia: I know that I know nothing
  • Zen philosophy: Empty your cup
  • Psycology: Stage of Cognitive Development

67 comments:

  1. Actually,I know that I know nothing is the best ego reducing method.Somebody doesn't get any idea from the Great Greek philosopher Socrates slogan.Can you please share more slogans for ego?

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    1. Yes Mr. This is the powerful sentence of the world.

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    2. I think it's not helping for ego reducing quote because ego is depended upon several factors, but I know that I know nothing is good Socrates quote.

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    3. According to my knowledge the quote I know that I know nothing has several meaning, but it maintains discipline at any moment

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    4. Yes your argument is 100% perfect.How Socrates found this much of valuable quotes.Is he has some experience about it?

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    5. Best explain the method for Socrates quotes,but images are unsuitable for this post.Can you please re arrange it?

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  2. The phrase has different translation from the original language - Greek. Some say I know that I know nothing as well as I know one thing that I know nothing and etc. I would happy to see if anyone translate the Greek phrase word by word, and I feel it would give some sense.

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    1. Literally, I know that I know nothing is more than enough rather than word by word translation. Thanks.

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  3. Barry DesruisseauxAugust 5, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    Zen is another philosophy, and it is very easy to understand through small parables so called zen stories. It sounds easy in terms of understanding socrates’ quote thru zen. So, zen has the edge :)

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  4. I know that I know nothing is the best sentence for anytime.

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    1. What do you think about the founder of this sentence? He is a very great person in the world.

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    2. He is a great at his work. I would not know if he were very great. I never knew him personaly

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  5. What are connections between the Great Greek philosopher Socrates and Zen?And How can you teach Zen knowledge?

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  6. You could explain the theme ofI know that I know nothing is so wonderful, and anybody can understand the meaning of this quote by their own knowledge.

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    1. However, this I know that I know nothing quote can be applied to any time of our life ,so there is a particular meaning for understanding.

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  7. We feel knowing everything by ego, but actually, we don't know anything this is truth.

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    1. Socrates is a very great philosopher in the world. He'd known the truth during his life.

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  8. BEST QUOTE IN THE WORLD "I KNOW THAT I KNOW NOTHING "

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    1. How do tell I KNOW THAT I KNOW NOTHING quote is the best in the world ?. I'm waiting for your explanation.

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    2. Yes! Your quote is correct ,How is he says, " I KNOW THAT I KNOW NOTHING" is best?

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  9. This image is too small and can you possible replace above I know the I know nothing ?

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    1. We do not want to keep picture file due to loading time. I do consider to create some wallpaper on quotes of Socrates. Thanks for the suggestion.

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    2. When will I download to your wallpapers about quotes of Socrates?

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  10. Can you explain me how to Zen's stories connect with great philosopher Socrates's methods?

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    1. Zen's method is a connection with meditation and philosophy, but Socrates's method is based on Scientifically.

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  11. Yes;Is it difficult to find the result of I know that I know nothing quote?This quote matches with every part of our life.

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  12. Baruj Rubio CintrónSeptember 19, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    Your tea cup example has some valuable meaning, but most of the people don't care about it.I don't know why they?

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  13. Most of the human thinking like I know everything, but definitely they don't know anything. They are in the imagine world.

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    1. I also noted that kind of people.However, they are talking to nonsense words always.

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  14. I want to know the difference between "I know that I know nothing" and "I know one thing, that I know nothing"?

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    1. In my view, both Socrates quotes are given same meaning but I know nothing is 100% truth in our life,Some time we can guess future also.

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  15. Can you explain me the original meaning of "I know enough to know that I know nothing"? I 'm searching the best answer for that quote but until not get the best one, and I hope you will do it.

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  16. Hai,Where can get more news or information, about "I know that I know nothing" quote?

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  17. This is great news for people, and how many people realize the actual meaning of, "I know that I know nothing" slogan.If apply this theory in the critical situation,I hope it will help and protect yourself.

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  18. Really!!! You are one of the good students of the great philosopher Socrates.I have never seen such a web site as I know that I know nothing.Continue your works for Philosophy.

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  19. Ranislav DemirovičOctober 5, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    Can you explain the connection between the two quotes which are "I know that I know nothing" and "I know one thing that I know nothing"?

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  20. I couldn't believe this much of explain about the simple quote of "I know that I know nothing"

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  21. Ríkharður SigurvinssonOctober 8, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    Accidentally, I visited your post ,The Zen monk how to explain the mind controlling technique with practically (coffee cup).It has so many meaning full.Every must control and keep their minds with limits.

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  22. I know one thing that I know the philosophy is bulked of questions in order to know, and our life time is not enough to find answers of all of them.

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  23. Best explained about that I know that I know nothing , God bless you for continue this work.

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  24. "I know one thing that helps for every thing" What do you think about this quote?

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  25. This is a best quote of today's ,I hope everyone should follow this Socrates quote.

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  26. Can you please send me a new example or story of "I Know that I know nothing"?If you can't do it please inform my email.
    (email: nuerc456@gmail.com)

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  27. I heard that Socrates can't read and write ,Is it true?

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    1. Yes, your are correct but he can know everything in his life.

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  28. After studying about Socrates quotes, "I know that I Know nothing" quote is most meaningful.It'll neutralize mind clearly when in difficult time.

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  29. Nice article about "I know that I know nothing" and it could work anytime of life and it protect the tongue also.

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  30. This is a best article for "I know that I know nothing" quote and I am searching example for Socrates quotes ,I expect these example will be seen recently on this blog

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  31. This is good quote for self controlling and it has much powerful

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  32. "I know that I Know nothing" is how to involve in life time ,Pl explains me with the example.

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    1. You can feel the power of “I know that I know nothing” quote when you apply in stress mood.

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  33. Beautiful image for the Socrates quote and can I know your photography site?

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  34. Francisco van den AckerNovember 30, 2012 at 3:04 AM

    Well meaningful article for "I know that I know nothing" which is the one of the famous Socrates quote.

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  35. "I know nothing" should be said with "heart", not with mind. This quote of Socrates made my life sooo beautiful.

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  36. I never read this kind of article about I know that I know nothing but one thing I know lot of thing learn from this post

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  37. Joyce J. StephensMay 26, 2013 at 6:27 PM

    This is Albert Einstein one of his quotes “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand It yourself” but this post understand to a five year old .

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  38. Thanks very nice words and nice tips .I think its help for loyal readers.

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  39. According to my view this post is a new version of "I Know that I know nothing" quote anyway Socrates 's death is a good turning point.

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  40. In a different way to explain one of Socrates quote with example and you should improve your explanation method also ,good post

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  41. I think this Socrates quote is a good example between God and Human,can you understand my words?

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  42. I'd helped my friend MA Philosophy project ,I found that some people's lives are in trouble situation but some people's lives are very cool, why there are two kinds of mental situation of people are lives around the world ? According to that project, I found the solution everyone follows this quote "I know that I know nothing"their lives will be very coo

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  43. Great Philosopher left us a great quote

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  44. I Know one thing that "Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win"

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  45. great article i think your are the great philosopher in the world ,isn't it?

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  46. So Where did you get this information ? Are you a Philosopher or not? great article and I teach my students with this article.Thank you and waiting for getting more articles from you ..

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I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing.  The quote of Socrates is an opened door to think and analyze. There are so many interpretations & discussio...