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To be curious about that which is not one's concern while still in ignorance of oneself is ridiculous.
Plato
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Interpretation

What this quote means

It's foolish to be interested in matters that do not concern you while being unaware of your own self.

This quote by Plato emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the folly of being overly curious about external issues without first understanding oneself. It suggests that true wisdom begins with introspection and an awareness of one's own thoughts and feelings, rather than being distracted by the concerns of others.

Themes

CuriositySelf-AwarenessWisdomIgnoranceSelf-Reflection

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophical discussion about priorities in life, I would quote Plato to remind others to focus on self-awareness.

More from Plato

Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
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Not one of them who took up in his youth with this opinion that there are no gods ever continued until old age faithful to his conviction.
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...for the object of education is to teach us to love beauty.
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Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.
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Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
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Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.
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A little wisdom, now and then

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