--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The knowledge of self is the most…" description: "\"The knowledge of self is the most important thing, because how are you going to know God if you don't know yourself? How are you going to know anything..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/rza-1981_identity_the-knowledge-of-self-is-the-most-import_936448.png" --- # The knowledge of self is the most important thing, because… ![“The knowledge of self is the most important thing, because how are you going to know God if you don't know yourself? How are you going to know anything if you don't know yourself?” quote by RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/rza-1981_identity_the-knowledge-of-self-is-the-most-import_936448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/rza-1981_identity_the-knowledge-of-self-is-the-most-import_936448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/rza-1981_identity_the-knowledge-of-self-is-the-most-import_936448.png) > “The knowledge of self is the most important thing, because how are you going to know God if you don't know yourself? How are you going to know anything if you don't know yourself?” [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## 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 prerequisite to understanding the divine or any truth. **In simple terms:** Know yourself before seeking God or truth. Key Takeaway Practice self‑reflection. Themes self‑knowledge spirituality truth Mood contemplative inquisitive Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - journaling - therapy - spiritual study Key Concepts philosophy psychology religion Questions to Reflect On - How do you discover your true self? - What does “knowing God” mean without self‑knowledge? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be painful and destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Know God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-god/) [Know yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-yourself/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-self/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-important-385211/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“Knowledge of self is one of the most important ideas in The Art of War. It is imperative that you know your own self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/knowledge-of-self-is-one-of-the-most-important-ideas-in-the-art-of/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-wealth-is-in-my-knowledge-of-self-love-and-spirituality/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Distinguishing the signal from the noise requires both scientific knowledge and self-knowledge: the serenity to accept the things we cannot predict, the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/distinguishing-the-signal-from-the-noise-requires-both-scientific/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [I grew up in them streets, like everyone else but instead of pushin' drugs, I pushed knowledge of self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-grew-up-in-them-streets-like-everyone-else-but-instead-of-pushin/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [“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/) > [By enlarging your knowledge of things, you will find your knowledge of self is enlarged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/by-enlarging-your-knowledge-of-things-you-will-find-your-knowledge-of/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“Knowledge—self-knowledge in particular—is freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/knowledge-self-knowledge-in-particular-is-freedom/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Adulthood is not an age, but a stage of knowledge of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/adulthood-is-not-an-age-but-a-stage-of-knowledge-of-self/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [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/) > [The most elusive knowledge of all is self-knowledge and it is usually acquired laboriously through experience outside the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirra-komarovsky/the-most-elusive-knowledge-of-all-is-self-knowledge-and-it-is-usually/) [Mirra Komarovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirra-komarovsky/) > [Happiness comes from self-knowledge. Self-knowledge means that you have understood your mind. Your mind is the whole universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/happiness-comes-from-self-knowledge-self-knowledge-means-that-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must strive for freedom if we strive for self-knowledge. The task of self-knowledge and of further self-development is of such importance and seriousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/we-must-strive-for-freedom-if-we-strive-for-self-knowledge-the-task/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## More by RZA > [I have to make beats every day. Wherever I go, I got a keyboard waiting for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-have-to-make-beats-every-day-wherever-i-go-i-got-a-keyboard-waiting/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I didn't learn black history in school. I had to go find Malcolm X books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-didn-t-learn-black-history-in-school-i-had-to-go-find-malcolm-x/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [It is sad that the world has gotten more of my time than my children, but my children benefit from it through their financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/it-is-sad-that-the-world-has-gotten-more-of-my-time-than-my-children/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When I first heard hip-hop, in 1976, there were maybe only 500 people that could do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-i-first-heard-hip-hop-in-1976-there-were-maybe-only-500-people/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Grew up in Stapleton House village, where blood flood the waters in the streets like oil spillage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grew-up-in-stapleton-house-village-where-blood-flood-the-waters-in/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I love the Bee Gees, and I love Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb. I listen to them almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-love-the-bee-gees-and-i-love-barry-gibb-and-andy-gibb-i-listen-to/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [What happens to a lot of artists in the music industry right now is the following: The music industry is plummeting real fast. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/what-happens-to-a-lot-of-artists-in-the-music-industry-right-now-is/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [There are lawyers advising to sue, so the lawyers can keep their retainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/there-are-lawyers-advising-to-sue-so-the-lawyers-can-keep-their/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I could never be a control freak. If Wu-Tang is a dictatorship, how does every Wu-Tang member have their own contract, their own career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-could-never-be-a-control-freak-if-wu-tang-is-a-dictatorship-how/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I think as time goes on that generation of rappers who's making it now is gonna face the same thing that my generation was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-think-as-time-goes-on-that-generation-of-rappers-who-s-making-it/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > ['Grease?' I watch that film over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grease-i-watch-that-film-over-and-over/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'm glad Wu-Tang was able to inspire other producers and artists, but I would never want to be erased or removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-m-glad-wu-tang-was-able-to-inspire-other-producers-and-artists-but/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'd hate to compare art to life but I think a movie is an entity of its own, and when it's done, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-d-hate-to-compare-art-to-life-but-i-think-a-movie-is-an-entity-of/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When we was making a song called 'Bring Da Ruckus,' we took the snare, and we put it in an elevator shaft and recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-we-was-making-a-song-called-bring-da-ruckus-we-took-the-snare/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) [Explore all 193 RZA quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. 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Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Why were there no words that spoke positively about being concerned about the self? Why was there only negative connotation in terms like "selfish",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dalton/why-were-there-no-words-that-spoke-positively-about-being-concerned/) [A.J. Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-dalton/) [Browse all 11,949 Identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The knowledge of self is the most important thing, because how are you going to know God if you don't know yourself? 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