The phrase "Know thyself" (Greek: Γνῶθι σεαυτόν, gnōthi seauton) was inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in ancient Greece. It is a Delphic maxim traditionally attributed to the Seven Sages of Greece or to the god Apollo himself, but its precise origin is uncertain. Among the Seven Sages, Chilon is the most commonly credited with the saying. The maxim primarily means "know your limits," such as understanding one's abilities and place in the world, and was later philosophically reinterpreted by Plato and Socrates as "know your soul" or to understand oneself deeply.
Socrates is famously associated with popularizing the idea of "know thyself" in a philosophical context, emphasizing self-knowledge as the foundation of wisdom, often summed up by his recognition that he "knew nothing" or that recognizing one's own ignorance is a form of wisdom. The phrase has been widely analyzed and adapted through history in philosophy, religion, and psychology.
In short, "Know thyself" is a classical Greek maxim from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, most often linked to the Seven Sages and made philosophically prominent by Socrates.