No man doth think others will be better to him than he is to them.
Benjamin WhichcoteRead
Man is a wonder to himself; he can neither govern nor know himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the complex and contradictory nature of human self-understanding and self-governance.
Benjamin Whichcote highlights the paradox of human existence; while individuals are capable of great thought and wonder, they often struggle to comprehend their own motivations and actions. This suggests that self-awareness and governance are challenging aspects of the human experience, raising questions about the nature of identity and personal agency.
Themes
Self-AwarenessHuman NaturePhilosophyIdentitySelf-Governance
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal growth during a workshop, this quote can encapsulate our struggles with self-discovery.
More from Benjamin Whichcote
All quotes βSome things must be good in themselves, else there could be no measure whereby to lay out good and evil.
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Believe things, rather than man.
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Right and truth are greater than any power, and all power is limited by right.
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Conscience without judgment is superstition.
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That power is in vain which is never in use.
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