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About this quote

What does it mean?
True wisdom comes from recognizing the limits of your own knowledge.
In plain terms
Acknowledge what you do not know to be wise.
What can you take from it?
Humility about your knowledge is the start of learning.

Where it applies

  • studying
  • decision making
  • philosophical inquiry

Putting it to work

  • Ask questions
  • Accept uncertainty
  • Avoid overconfidence

Questions to consider

  • What do you think you know for sure?
  • How does admitting ignorance help you?

Another view

Some practical tasks require acting on incomplete knowledge regardless.

More from Socrates

  1. The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.

    Permalink to quote #77
  2. The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.

    Permalink to quote #79
  3. The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.

    Permalink to quote #76

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