
ProverbMorality
Greek origin
Know thyself
Meaning: Self-knowledge and self-awareness are the foundation of all wisdom and right living.
Origin: The Greek gnōthi seauton was inscribed in the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, according to the travel writer Pausanias. Plato's Socrates returns to it again and again as the starting point of philosophy.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 2 more languages
French: Connais-toi toi-même (literally: Know yourself)
Spanish: Conócete a ti mismo (literally: Know yourself)
Japanese: 汝自身を知れ (Nanji jishin wo shire) (literally: Know thyself)
German: Erkenne dich selbst (literally: Know yourself)
Italian: Conosci te stesso (literally: Know thyself)
Portuguese: Conhece-te a ti mesmo (literally: Know thyself)
Polish: Poznaj samego siebie (literally: Know thyself)
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- 국수를 먹다 (Guksu-reul meokda) To attend a wedding — or, asked as a question, when will you marry?
- Τα έκανε θάλασσα He made a complete mess of it.
- حط في بطنك بطيخة صيفي (ḥuṭṭ fī baṭnak baṭīkha ṣayfī) Relax completely; do not worry about a thing.
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