--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may know ourselves, and yet even with…" description: "\"We may know ourselves, and yet even with all the efforts we make, we do not know ourselves. We know our fellowman, and yet we do not know him, because ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/erich-fromm-367_depth_we-may-know-ourselves-and-yet-even-with_815536.jpg" --- # We may know ourselves, and yet even with all the efforts… ![“We may know ourselves, and yet even with all the efforts we make, we do not know ourselves. We know our fellowman, and yet we do not know him, because we are not a thing, and our fellowman is not a thing. The further we reach into the depths of our being, on someone else's being, the more the goal…” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/erich-fromm-367_depth_we-may-know-ourselves-and-yet-even-with_815536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/erich-fromm-367_depth_we-may-know-ourselves-and-yet-even-with_815536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/erich-fromm-367_depth_we-may-know-ourselves-and-yet-even-with_815536.jpg) > “We may know ourselves, and yet even with all the efforts we make, we do not know ourselves. We know our fellowman, and yet we do not know him, because we are not a thing, and our fellowman is not a thing. The further we reach into the depths of our being, on someone else's being, the more the goal of knowledge eludes us.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## 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 elusive; understanding others is even harder, despite deep introspection. **In simple terms:** We rarely truly know ourselves or others. Key Takeaway Seek humility. Themes self‑awareness empathy knowledge limits Mood thoughtful humble Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - team building - cross‑cultural communication Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions about yourself might be false? - How can you better understand others? A Different Perspective Absolute certainty is impossible; accept ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Elude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elude/) [Fellowman Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellowman-know-315278/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Know Fellowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-fellowman-315277/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Eludes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-eludes-315276/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Thing Fellowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-fellowman-315279/) ## Related quotes > [It is rash to intrude upon the piety of others: both the depth and the grace of it elude the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/it-is-rash-to-intrude-upon-the-piety-of-others-both-the-depth-and-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Thinking carries a moral imperative. 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