I know that I know nothing (Video)

Here is a video for I know that I know nothing phrase. This is a one minute and eleven seconds short video that can give you the quickest facts, figures & information about the phrase.

Socrates Quotes about Knowing Oneself

There are so many quotes of Socrates. His quotes on knowing oneself are famous since they are motivational and they open eye on self-awareness, self-examination/review, etc.

Socrates did not write any book about philosophy or teaching, but his students wrote from his teachings.  Commonly Plato and Xenophon are considered as writers of Socrates’ teachings.

Socrates Quotes about Knowing
Socrates Quotes about Knowing Oneself


Socrates wanted to make people to think, particularly oneself. Therefore, he taught about “knowing oneself”. Still his teaching to possess knowledge influences people, and make them think and knowing themselves first and then other knowledge. So, know first yourself then then know others. Therefore, the quotes about knowing are listed in this article.

There are fourteen quotes of Socrates to know yourself as follows (in alphabetical order):


  1. Be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.
  2. By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.
  3. Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
  4. He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.
  5. It is better to change an opinion than to persist in a wrong one.
  6. My friend…care for your psyche…know thyself, for once we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves.
  7. Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
  8. The easiest and noblest way is not to be crushing others, but to be improving yourselves.
  9. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
  10. The unexamined life is not worth living.
  11. There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.
  12. Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.
  13. True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.
  14. When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.

Trend followers know one thing is nothing

Most of people simply live their life as "daily routine". They do not care what NASA does in space, what scientists do for climate change or what were philosophies of Socrates? Most people live by their live on own principles. They have logic that only interprets for them as right or wrong. Most people try to live as happy and target money for happiness. That’s all. They might follow mass. If the believe on God, they too do the same. It could be blindly acceptance or arbitrary influence. It could be from outside influence such as culture or own inadequacy.

Trend follower
Trend follower

Why they do? They know nothing! They have no idea of knowing the knowledge. They mainly follow mass. If it is a "trend" that has short haircut and coloring like a circle shape on center portion of hair with red color, they will follow and name it "fashion" or "style". We could call them "trend followers".

From the Greek philosophical era to the current modern world, majority of people are average or below average in terms of knowledge. Socrates was struggling to enlighten people including the king. This average type of people never contributed to the knowledge including science and philosophy. Also, we cannot blame them. It is their limitation or knowledge condition. You can never and ever make a butterfly as eagle. And, eagle’s strength and wings automatically take her to soaring. Butterfly is beautiful. But, it is very hard to bear when it live as caterpillar. Most people are like caterpillar and many people are like pupa. First one can destroy your garden; second one can make you feel like useless or nothing.

Unfortunately, you have to live with all type of people. Sometimes, they may look at you and say “Look, this fella is kinda oldie”.  You may smile and reply “Yes, I know that I know nothing”. You don’t need to explain to everyone, especially when people act like "I know everything". If know who you are and what are you limitations, that is great.

Facebook Covers | I know that I know nothing

Facebook is one of the powerful social medias in the virtual world / internet world. Therefore, I have created some Facebook Covers based on the quote I know that I know nothing. You may download it and use.


I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing

I know that I know nothing

Existence | Hindu philosophy

Hindu philosophy teaches that the soul is a lasting remaining of me after removed or left all from me. The body cannot become "I". Because, we used to say "my body", "my eye", etc. Here, body or eye is part of me, and it never becomes "I". The term "my body" indirectly says that body is part of me, and I am not part of body. Also, it is applicable for all of our senses as well as mind. When I sleep, I exist. Even though, I cannot feel "I" during my sleep. However, I exist, and my mind or senses are unable to find it. Therefore, we could conclude that mind is not "I". If so, who is "I"? Hindu philosophy tells that whether you sleep or not, but living part in you is soul, and the soul is "I".

Existence
Existence concept through Socrates and Hindu philosophy

It (soul) sees without sight; hear without hearing; think without thinking; know without knowing. There is no one to see; no one to hear; no one to think; and no one to know, except the soul. It is your soul which is the inner man, the immortal, and others are badness. The soul is to be seen (by inner eye); to be heard (by inner ear); to be minded (by internally); to be meditated (by unity of heart). It reveals by all acts of senses. It never adopts anything, but bears everything. It has not attitude, but experience.

Hindu philosophy gives priority to soul as supernatural stuff. Your existing is based on soul, not like existing concept of Socrates. He used "thinking" to prove our existence while Hinduism sees it as part of us, and our existence can be prove by the soul.

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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...