Knowledge Quote by Yoshida Kenko
““Even those who have an air of being wise judge of others only, and do not know themselves. It cannot be in reason to know others and not to know oneself. Therefore one who knows himself may be said to be a man who has knowledge. Though our looks be unpleasing, we do not know it. We do not know that our skill is poor. We do not know that our station is lowly. We do not know that we grow old in years. We do not know that sickness attacks us. We do not know that death is near. We do not know that we have not attained the Way we follow. We do not know what evil is in our own persons, still less what calumny comes from without.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays in Idleness (Zoku Zōkan) by Yoshida Kenko, c. 1330
Self‑knowledge is essential; judging others without understanding oneself is folly, because true wisdom begins with recognizing one’s own limitations and flaws.
In simple terms: Know yourself before judging others.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑awareness.
Themes
wisdom
self‑knowledge
humility
philosophy
human nature
Mood
reflective
serious
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
self‑help
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- mental health
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
self‑reflection
epistemology
ethical insight
Questions to Reflect On
- What blind spots might you be ignoring?
- How does self‑awareness change your interactions?
A Different Perspective
Self‑knowledge is difficult and can be uncomfortable; people may resist confronting their flaws.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
