--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I examined the poets, and I look on them…" description: "\"“I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose talent overawes both themselves and others, people who present themselves as wise men and are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/socrates-405_art_i-examined-the-poets-and-i-look-on-them_440251.jpg" --- # I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose… ![“I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose talent overawes both themselves and others, people who present themselves as wise men and are taken as such, when they are nothing of the sort. From poets, I moved to artists. No one was more ignorant about the arts than I; no one was more…” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/socrates-405_art_i-examined-the-poets-and-i-look-on-them_440251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/socrates-405_art_i-examined-the-poets-and-i-look-on-them_440251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/socrates-405_art_i-examined-the-poets-and-i-look-on-them_440251.jpg) > ““I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose talent overawes both themselves and others, people who present themselves as wise men and are taken as such, when they are nothing of the sort. From poets, I moved to artists. No one was more ignorant about the arts than I; no one was more convinced that artists possessed really beautiful secrets. However, I noticed that their condition was no better than that of the poets and that both of them have the same misconceptions. Because the most skillful among them excel in their specialty, they look upon themselves as the wisest of men. In my eyes, this presumption completely tarnished their knowledge. As a result, putting myself in the place of the oracle and asking myself what I would prefer to be — what I was or what they were, to know what they have learned or to know that I know nothing — I replied to myself and to the god: I wish to remain who I am. We do not know — neither the sophists, nor the orators, nor the artists, nor I— what the True, the Good, and the Beautiful are. But there is this difference between us: although these people know nothing, they all believe they know something; whereas, I, if I know nothing, at least have no doubts about it. As a result, all this superiority in wisdom which the oracle has attributed to me reduces itself to the single point that I am strongly convinced that I am ignorant of what I do not know.”” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom lies in recognizing one's own ignorance. **In simple terms:** Admit ignorance to seek truth. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and continual learning. Themes philosophy humility knowledge Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - education - self‑reflection - leadership development Key Concepts Socratic method epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly know nothing? - How can doubt foster growth? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can masquerade as wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Examined Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examined-poets-3861920/) [Humbleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humbleness/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Know Sophists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-sophists-3861921/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-look-2535429/) [Poets Misconceptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-misconceptions-3861919/) [Sophists Orators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophists-orators-3861922/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The poet's other readers are the ancient poets, who look upon the freshly written pages from an incorruptible distance. 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From poets, I moved to artists. No one was more ignorant about the arts than I; no one was more convinced that artists possessed really beautiful secrets. However, I noticed that their condition was no better than that of the poets and that both of them have the same misconceptions. Because the most skillful among them excel in their specialty, they look upon themselves as the wisest of men. In my eyes, this presumption completely tarnished their knowledge. As a result, putting myself in the place of the oracle and asking myself what I would prefer to be — what I was or what they were, to know what they have learned or to know that I know nothing — I replied to myself and to the god: I wish to remain who I am. We do not know — neither the sophists, nor the orators, nor the artists, nor I— what the True, the Good, and the Beautiful are. But there is this difference between us: although these people know nothing, they all believe they know something; whereas, I, if I know nothing, at least have no doubts about it. 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