'Know thyself' was written over the portal of the antique world. Over the portal of the new world, 'Be thyself' shall be written.
In plain words
The old advice was to understand yourself. The new advice is to be yourself.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891).
- 1891
More from Oscar Wilde
See allTo live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
Oscar WildeWe are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.Oscar WildeI have many beautiful flowers, but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.Oscar WildeThe good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.Oscar WildeI must learn how to be happy.Oscar WildeThe artist is the creator of beautiful things.Oscar Wilde
Oscar WildeWe are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.Oscar WildeI have many beautiful flowers, but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.Oscar WildeThe good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.Oscar WildeI must learn how to be happy.Oscar WildeThe artist is the creator of beautiful things.Oscar WildeMore on individuality
Not all who wander are lost.
J.R.R. TolkienWe will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.
Ralph Waldo EmersonThe imitator dooms himself to hopeless mediocrity.Ralph Waldo EmersonAlways be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
Judy GarlandIt takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.
Louisa May AlcottHe who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.
Zhuangzi
J.R.R. TolkienWe will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.Ralph Waldo EmersonThe imitator dooms himself to hopeless mediocrity.Ralph Waldo EmersonAlways be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.Judy GarlandIt takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.Louisa May AlcottHe who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.Zhuangzi