--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without first knowing yourself, how can…" description: "\"“Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is true? Illusion is inevitable without self knowledge. It is childish to be told and to accept ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg" --- # Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is… ![“Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is true? Illusion is inevitable without self knowledge. It is childish to be told and to accept that you are this or that. Beware” quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg) > ““Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is true? Illusion is inevitable without self knowledge. It is childish to be told and to accept that you are this or that. Beware”” [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that self‑knowledge is prerequisite for truth; without it, illusion and unexamined beliefs dominate. **In simple terms:** Know yourself to know truth; otherwise you are misled. Key Takeaway Prioritize self‑inquiry. Themes self‑knowledge truth illusion critical thinking Mood inquisitive serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal meditation - dialogue - education - mindfulness practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to deepen self‑awareness? - How does self‑knowledge affect your perception of truth? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge alone may not guarantee truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Knowing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-yourself/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [Religion is an illusion and every illusion has the inevitable destiny of a soap bubble!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/religion-is-an-illusion-and-every-illusion-has-the-inevitable-destiny/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I'm traveling a speed unknown to man and I carry love for all in the mirror of my hand. I say love for all…don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/i-m-traveling-a-speed-unknown-to-man-and-i-carry-love-for-all-in-the/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [History is for human self-knowledge. Knowing yourself means knowing, first, what it is to be a person; secondly, knowing what it is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-g-collingwood/history-is-for-human-self-knowledge-knowing-yourself-means-knowing/) [Robin G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-g-collingwood/) > [“Living authentically means aligning our outer actions with our inner beliefs and desires. It starts with knowing yourself: your values, your likes and dislikes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajmal-from-the-book-borders-of-the-inner-world/living-authentically-means-aligning-our-outer-actions-with-our-inner/) [Ajmal, from the book "Borders of the Inner World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajmal-from-the-book-borders-of-the-inner-world/) > [If you don't know yourself, you don't know your nature. If you don't know your nature, you don't know where to exist. By knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/if-you-don-t-know-yourself-you-don-t-know-your-nature-if-you-don-t/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The Spirit which is within you is a collective being and once you are awakened into the light of Spirit, you become a collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-spirit-which-is-within-you-is-a-collective-being-and-once-you-are/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Without knowing yourself, there is no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-knowing-yourself-there-is-no-peace/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Understanding of the self only arises in relationship, in watching yourself in relationship to people, ideas, and things; to trees, the earth, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/understanding-of-the-self-only-arises-in-relationship-in-watching/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Self-knowledge is only from moment to moment, and therefore there is a creative happiness from moment to moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/self-knowledge-is-only-from-moment-to-moment-and-therefore-there-is-a/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Freedom comes with self-knowledge, when the mind goes above and beyond the hindrances it has created for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-comes-with-self-knowledge-when-the-mind-goes-above-and-beyond/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Only when the mind is tranquil-through self-knowledge and not through imposed self-discipline-only then, in that tranquillity, in that silence, can reality come into being.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/only-when-the-mind-is-tranquil-through-self-knowledge-and-not-through/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“But self-knowledge cannot be imposed, understanding cannot be compelled; and if this is a vital problem to you and me, to the parent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/but-self-knowledge-cannot-be-imposed-understanding-cannot-be/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Sanity is not about confrontation. It's about filtering. Having a stable and happy life is about saying "no" to crazy people, not about inviting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/sanity-is-not-about-confrontation-it-s-about-filtering-having-a/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“people say i can do that, But they can't because they weren't see the things in my point of view”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj/people-say-i-can-do-that-but-they-can-t-because-they-weren-t-see-the/) @Rj > [“Purity culture often functions by shaming us for seeking knowledge about our own bodies. Studying even the scientific elements of sexual intercourse can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-anderson/purity-culture-often-functions-by-shaming-us-for-seeking-knowledge/) [Dianna Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-anderson/) ## More by Jiddu Krishnamurti > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I have only one purpose: to make people free, to urge them towards freedom, to help them to break away from all limitations, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-have-only-one-purpose-to-make-people-free-to-urge-them-towards/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Its beautiful to be alone. To be alone does not mean to be lonely. it means the mind is not influenced and contaminated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/its-beautiful-to-be-alone-to-be-alone-does-not-mean-to-be-lonely-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Knowing the cause of something is not going to help you to be free of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowing-the-cause-of-something-is-not-going-to-help-you-to-be-free-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Whatever discipline you exercise should be based on the goal your child is eventually to reach, namely, freedom and happiness. I would show him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/whatever-discipline-you-exercise-should-be-based-on-the-goal-your/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Without discontentment, without revolt, you can never attain harmony. It is a necessary stage, which must be gone through by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-discontentment-without-revolt-you-can-never-attain-harmony-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Meditation is a state of mind which looks at everything with complete attention, totally, not just parts of it. And no one can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-a-state-of-mind-which-looks-at-everything-with-complete/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Learning is the very essence of humility . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/learning-is-the-very-essence-of-humility/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Life is a movement, a constant movement in relationship; and thought, trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, as memory, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/life-is-a-movement-a-constant-movement-in-relationship-and-thought/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Meditation is like going to a well, the waters of which are inexhaustible, with a pitcher that is always empty. The pitcher can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-like-going-to-a-well-the-waters-of-which-are/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The observer is the observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-observer-is-the-observed/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [When we stop fighting with ourselves, we aren't creating anymore conflict in our mind. Then our mind can for the first time relax and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-we-stop-fighting-with-ourselves-we-aren-t-creating-anymore/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-lily-or-a-rose-never-pretends-and-its-beauty-is-that-it-is-what-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Explore all 807 Jiddu Krishnamurti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) ## More Illusion quotes > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Even mud gives the illusion of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/even-mud-gives-the-illusion-of-depth/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Knowing does not always allow us to prevent, but at least the things that we know, we hold them, if not in our hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/knowing-does-not-always-allow-us-to-prevent-but-at-least-the-things/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/we-are-eternal-all-this-pain-is-an-illusion/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [How could they say that they truly loved each other? They had simply grown up together, been children together, and the proximity of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/how-could-they-say-that-they-truly-loved-each-other-they-had-simply/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/your-problem-is-how-you-are-going-to-spend-this-one-odd-and-precious/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 3,604 Illusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is true? Illusion is inevitable without self knowledge. It is childish to be told and to accept that you are this or that. Beware”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jiddu Krishnamurti" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-you-know-what-is-true-illusion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Illusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-you-know-what-is-true-illusion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_illusion_without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-y_2416257.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without first knowing yourself, how can you know what is true? Illusion is inevitable without self…” — Jiddu Krishnamurti", "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": "Jiddu Krishnamurti", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Without first knowing yourself, how can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-you-know-what-is-true-illusion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-first-knowing-yourself-how-can-you-know-what-is-true-illusion/#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 } } ] } ```