--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without knowledge of self there is no…" description: "\"Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/john-calvin-490_birth_without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-kn_2158111.jpg" --- # Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our… ![“Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two…” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/john-calvin-490_birth_without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-kn_2158111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/john-calvin-490_birth_without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-kn_2158111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/john-calvin-490_birth_without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-kn_2158111.jpg) > “Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.” [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## 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 and knowledge of the divine are intertwined; understanding one helps grasp the other, but determining which comes first is difficult. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself and God are linked, but the order is unclear. Key Takeaway Cultivate both self‑reflection and spiritual study. Themes theology philosophy self‑awareness Mood reflective serious Type doctrinal philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - religious practice - ethical decision‑making - academic study Key Concepts dualism interdependence epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Which insight guides your life more? - How can you integrate both pursuits? A Different Perspective Balancing self‑exploration with divine inquiry can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-knowledge-of-god/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Until we have the right knowledge of God, the knowledge of self and our need for grace remains distorted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/until-we-have-the-right-knowledge-of-god-the-knowledge-of-self-and/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [“Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God … without knowledge of God there is no knowledge of self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no-knowledge-of-god-without/) [john calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [True wisdom consists in two things: Knowledge of God and Knowledge of Self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-wisdom-consists-in-two-things-knowledge-of-god-and-knowledge-of/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Self knowledge puts us on our knees, and it is very necessary for love. For knowledge of God gives love, and knowledge of self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/self-knowledge-puts-us-on-our-knees-and-it-is-very-necessary-for-love/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“How, as John Calvin put it, “without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God.” “For”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-morgan-cron/how-as-john-calvin-put-it-without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no/) [Ian Morgan Cron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-morgan-cron/) > [“As God’s self-knowledge lies in the eternal Spirit, so man’s self-knowledge is by his own spirit, and his knowledge of God is by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/as-god-s-self-knowledge-lies-in-the-eternal-spirit-so-man-s-self/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [Our true and genuine wisdom can be summed up as the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/our-true-and-genuine-wisdom-can-be-summed-up-as-the-knowledge-of-god/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The true wisdom of man consists in the knowledge of God the creator and Redeemer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-true-wisdom-of-man-consists-in-the-knowledge-of-god-the-creator/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Trie and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/trie-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [We must observe that the knowledge of God which we are invited to cultivate is not that which, resting satisfied with empty speculation, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/we-must-observe-that-the-knowledge-of-god-which-we-are-invited-to/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/all-true-knowledge-of-god-is-born-out-of-obedience/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The sum total of all possible knowledge of God is not possible for a human being, not even through a true revelation. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-sum-total-of-all-possible-knowledge-of-god-is-not-possible-for-a/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) ## More by John Calvin > [I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness - nay, I have never found common sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/i-have-never-seen-either-a-drop-of-piety-or-a-grain-of-truth-or/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [It is no small honour that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the world, in order that we may not only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-no-small-honour-that-god-for-our-sake-has-so-magnificently/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [No man can come to God but by an extraordinary revelation of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-come-to-god-but-by-an-extraordinary-revelation-of-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stronger-exhortation-to-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-surest-source-of-destruction-to-men-is-to-obey-themselves/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The whole gospel is contained in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-whole-gospel-is-contained-in-christ/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against-2/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [If a preacher is not first preaching to himself, better that he falls on the steps of the pulpit and breaks his neck than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-a-preacher-is-not-first-preaching-to-himself-better-that-he-falls/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Again I ask whence it happened that the fall of Adam involved, without remedy, in eternal death so many nations, together with their infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/again-i-ask-whence-it-happened-that-the-fall-of-adam-involved-without/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Unless God's Word illumine the way, the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist, so that they cannot but miserably stray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/unless-god-s-word-illumine-the-way-the-whole-life-of-men-is-wrapped/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Explore all 520 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. 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It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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