--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not know ourselves aright, Until we…" description: "\"“We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the Father's light. We think we know ourselves and groan, Until we know as we are known”\" — John Piper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png" --- # We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the… ![“We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the Father's light. We think we know ourselves and groan, Until we know as we are known” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png) > ““We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the Father's light. We think we know ourselves and groan, Until we know as we are known”” [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## 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 requires divine illumination; human understanding is limited without it. **In simple terms:** Know yourself through God's light. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual insight for true self‑understanding. Themes spirituality self‑knowledge faith Mood hopeful contemplative Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual counseling - leadership training Key Concepts theology humility Questions to Reflect On - How does divine light shape your self‑view? - What practical steps help you seek that illumination? A Different Perspective May overlook practical self‑reflection methods. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [Father of Light! great God of Heaven! Hear'st thou the accents of despair? Can guilt like man's be e'er forgiven? Can vice atone for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/father-of-light-great-god-of-heaven-hear-st-thou-the-accents-of/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“My heart is so light, I think it might be made out of air. It might float up and escape through the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-york/my-heart-is-so-light-i-think-it-might-be-made-out-of-air-it-might/) [Robin York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-york/) > [“a light that made me think of long hours in dusty libraries, and old books, and silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/a-light-that-made-me-think-of-long-hours-in-dusty-libraries-and-old/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Light. Light I think is knowledge. Knowledge is love. Love is freedom. Freedom is energy. Energy is all. Without light, we can't have images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vittorio-storaro/light-light-i-think-is-knowledge-knowledge-is-love-love-is-freedom/) [Vittorio Storaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vittorio-storaro/) > [“nothing is more opaque than absolute transparency. Look--my feet don't hit the marble! Like breath or a balloon, I'm rising, I hover six inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/nothing-is-more-opaque-than-absolute-transparency-look-my-feet-don-t/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [That’s what’s so gorgeous about humanity. It doesn’t matter how bleak our daily lives are, we still fight for the light. I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/that-s-what-s-so-gorgeous-about-humanity-it-doesn-t-matter-how-bleak/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [Remember when you were in school and the teacher would put a picture under an overhead projector so you could see it on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/remember-when-you-were-in-school-and-the-teacher-would-put-a-picture/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“If you think the world is full of darkness, let us see your light. If you think the world is full of wickedness, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/if-you-think-the-world-is-full-of-darkness-let-us-see-your-light-if/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [To just burn out, to give up just because things don't go your way, to assume that there is no God, no infinite light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/to-just-burn-out-to-give-up-just-because-things-don-t-go-your-way-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life, wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-travel-light-i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-be-in-a-good/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [In thinking of light, if we can think about what it can do, and what it is, by thinking about itself, not about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/in-thinking-of-light-if-we-can-think-about-what-it-can-do-and-what-it/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [People in the dark can't see the light, what they think is wrong it might be right. Look ahead and don't turn around ,ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccoy/people-in-the-dark-can-t-see-the-light-what-they-think-is-wrong-it/) Michael McCoy > [The way to overcome the darkness of our fear, confusion and suffering is by shining the light on all that we think, feel, say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/the-way-to-overcome-the-darkness-of-our-fear-confusion-and-suffering/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) ## More by John Piper > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-feel-loved-by-god-because-you-believe-he-makes-much-of-you-or/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-missions-exists-because-worship-doesn-t-worship-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If you hold a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-hold-a-grudge-you-doubt-the-judge/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is the highest moral act a human can perform, so the only basis and motivation for it that many people can conceive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-the-highest-moral-act-a-human-can-perform-so-the-only/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Not to aim to show God is not to love, bc God is what we need the most deeply. And to have all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-aim-to-show-god-is-not-to-love-bc-god-is-what-we-need-the-most/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-given-us-prayer-as-a-wartime-walkie-talkie-so-that-we-can/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Ignatius, when he heard the clock strike, would say, "Now I have another hour to answer for." (Eph. 5:16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/ignatius-when-he-heard-the-clock-strike-would-say-now-i-have-another/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Explore all 803 John Piper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More Father quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [“I don’t know. We all have to bear things, Ari. All of us. Your father has to bear the war and what it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-we-all-have-to-bear-things-ari-all-of-us-your-father-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was, I sometimes thought, the last gift my father gave me. And the best: His death stood out as the supreme-o excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/this-was-i-sometimes-thought-the-last-gift-my-father-gave-me-and-the/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [My father was very encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/my-father-was-very-encouraging/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 19,784 Father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the Father's light. We think we know ourselves and groan, Until we know as we are known”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Piper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we-have-the-father-s-light-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Father" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we-have-the-father-s-light-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/john-piper-255_father_we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we_1382500.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We do not know ourselves aright, Until we have the Father's light. We think we know ourselves and groan…” — John Piper", "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": "John Piper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We do not know ourselves aright,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we-have-the-father-s-light-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-do-not-know-ourselves-aright-until-we-have-the-father-s-light-we/#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 } } ] } ```