---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know thyself' is a highly overrated piece…"
description: "\"“Know thyself' is a highly overrated piece of wisdom. As for knowing the self of others, forget it. Know what they do and judge them by their works.”\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/charles-krauthammer-1232_identity_know-thyself-is-a-highly-overrated-piece_906773.png"
---

#  Know thyself' is a highly overrated piece of wisdom. As…

![“Know thyself' is a highly overrated piece of wisdom. As for knowing the self of others, forget it. Know what they do and judge them by their works.” quote by Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/charles-krauthammer-1232_identity_know-thyself-is-a-highly-overrated-piece_906773.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/charles-krauthammer-1232_identity_know-thyself-is-a-highly-overrated-piece_906773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/charles-krauthammer-1232_identity_know-thyself-is-a-highly-overrated-piece_906773.png)

> ““Know thyself' is a highly overrated piece of wisdom. As for knowing the self of others, forget it. Know what they do and judge them by their works.””

[Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He argues that self‑knowledge is overrated and that judging others by actions is more reliable than trying to understand their inner selves.

**In simple terms:** Focus on actions, not trying to know minds.

Key Takeaway

Judge people by what they do.

Themes

skepticism judgment self‑knowledge

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- leadership evaluation
- personal relationships
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- Can actions fully reveal character?
- When is inner insight necessary?

A Different Perspective

Overlooks the value of empathy and deeper understanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Know thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-thyself/) [Knowing self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-self/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

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