Single Idea 2932

[catalogued under 16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 3. Limits of Introspection]

Full Idea

"Everybody is farthest away - from himself"; and the maxim "know thyself" addressed to human beings by a god, is almost malicious.

Gist of Idea

'Know thyself' is impossible and ridiculous

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882], §335)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Gay Science', ed/tr. Kaufmann,Walter [Vintage 1974], p.263


A Reaction

Expressed with characteristcally Nietzschean brio, but I couldn't agree more, and it is a very important truth. You can only require full self-knowledge if the whole mind is available to be known, and that isn't even remotely the case.