--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know thyself, presume not God to scan…" description: "\"“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.”\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png" --- # Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of… ![“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png) > ““Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.”” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑knowledge is the proper study; we should examine humanity rather than divine mysteries. **In simple terms:** Know yourself, not gods. Key Takeaway Focus on understanding human nature. Themes self‑knowledge humility philosophy Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - education - leadership training - psychology Key Concepts Enlightenment thought anthropology Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly know yourself? - How can we study humanity without bias? A Different Perspective Human nature is complex and often contradictory, limiting simple self‑analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Introspection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introspection/) [Know thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-thyself/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-then-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-3/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The proper study of Mankind is Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [If, presume not to God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/if-presume-not-to-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man-plac/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The proper study of mankind is man in his relation to his deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man-in-his-relation-to-his-deity/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The most wonderful study of mankind is man. Relieving human suffering and diffusing universal knowledge is humanitarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/the-most-wonderful-study-of-mankind-is-man-relieving-human-suffering/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [The proper study of mankind is books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The proper study of mankind is the science of design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-the-science-of-design/) [Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/) > [The proper study of mankind is woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-woman/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The true science and study of mankind is man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-charron/the-true-science-and-study-of-mankind-is-man/) [Pierre Charron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-charron/) > [“The noblest study of mankind is Man, says Man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/the-noblest-study-of-mankind-is-man-says-man/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [The proper study of Mankind is Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-everything/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Oh! A mystery is it?' I cried, rubbing my hands. 'This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-doyle/oh-a-mystery-is-it-i-cried-rubbing-my-hands-this-is-very-piquant-i-am/) Arthur Doyle > [“Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-then-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-2/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Know then thyself; presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-then-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The height of all philosophy is to know thyself; and the end of this knowledge is to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-height-of-all-philosophy-is-to-know-thyself-and-the-end-of-this/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/alexander-pope-235_advice_know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the_3096146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Know thyself, presume not God to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```