What Is the Meaning of The Phrase “Know Thyself?”

Last Updated on May 17, 2024 by The Unbounded Thinker

“Know Thyself”, a dictum mainly attributed to Socrates, was carved into stone at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo in Greece.

Scholars who discuss the phrase overlook its spiritual meaning: they are unaware that Socrates was a philosopher deeply concerned with spiritual matters.

Plato’s book, The Last Days of Socrates, provides adequate proof that Socrates was a spiritual philosopher who believed in the existence of the soul and life after death. I’ll explain the meaning of the dictum “Know Thyself” from a spiritual point of view because of three major reasons. First, Socrates was spiritual. Second, the statement was written on the Temple of Apollo: a building established for spiritual purposes. Third, the phrase is rooted in secret societies and religions.

In many religions and secret societies, the phrase “Know Thyself” primarily means realizing your true nature (Check out my article: Seven Ways Awaken To Your True Nature According to Philosophy and Religion)..

Particularly, in Hinduism, it means looking inward and realizing that your true self is Atman, the eternal, ever-free, unchanging, innermost radiant self that is part of the Ultimate Reality that pervades the entire universe.

It involves knowing that you are not your ego, which is an impermanent self influenced by the material world and past experiences. It means realizing that you are a being beyond birth, death, time, and space.

Generally, to “Know Thyself” means having a direct realization that you are divine and eternal and knowing that there is more to your existence than just the physical body. It means knowing that the physical body is just an earthly cloth you wear for proper functioning in the physical realm. This knowledge will help you understand that an obsession with bodily desires prevents alignment with your true nature.

Furthermore, the phrase “Know Thyself” involves contemplating questions such as, Who am I? What is my relationship with the creator of the universe? What is my highest spiritual or mental potential? Questions that force you to embark on a transformative journey of unlocking your spiritual powers, accessing higher states of consciousness, and experiencing oneness.

In summary, to “Know Thyself” means contemplating your inner self so that you break free from limiting beliefs and illusions and realize that your true self is an eternal soul.

This realization results in self-respect, self-confidence, the courage to face whatever life throws at you, and a profound inner strength that guides you through adversity with unwavering resilience and grace.

When the Master of Life knows his true nature and understands the unity of contact, he is freed from all delusion and sorrow; he rises to something greater above.’-The Kolbrin Bible

Shalom.