Ancient Wisdom from Socrates

Recently, in discussing our culture’s need to recover common sense, I explained how past generations found wisdom by seeking genuine truth. Among my examples was one from ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived over two centuries ago. This essay will discuss more of his observations, which remain as insightful today as they were in his day. Here are a few of them:

“Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth.” This suggests that the tendency to resent people who challenge our viewpoint, even if they demonstrate its weaknesses, is a deeply human trait. In fact, the sounder the critic’s argument, the greater our anger, and more importantly, the more it blocks our self-improvement.

“Remember [that] no human condition is ever permanent. Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune nor too scornful in misfortune.” Following this advice helped people in Socrates’ time and thereafter maintain emotional balance and deal more effectively with daily challenges. It can do the same for us.

“Let him that would move the world first move himself.” This suggestion has not only been made by Socrates, but by other wise men and women who followed him. One of the most troubling problems of every generation is the inclination to dwell on the real or imagined faults of our neighbors rather than our own faults. Why all human beings have this unfortunate inclination is no mystery—it makes us feel better about ourselves than we deserve..

“Prefer knowledge to wealth, for the one is transitory, the other perpetual . . . [Also] The easiest and noblest way [to live] is not to be crushing others, but to be improving yourself.. . [and] The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” These statements may seem as if they came from the New Testament. But keep in mind that Socrates wrote them long before the New Testament was written. The wisdom they express is as old as mankind, and forgetting that, which often happens, is a terrible mistake.

“Know thyself . . . We are what we think we are . . . To find yourself, think for yourself.” This combination of statements rich in insight. The first reminds us that we do not know ourselves as we think we do; we know our pleasant characteristics, actual or imagined, but tend to block out the unpleasant ones that others see in us. The second statement states the power our thought processes have over us, for good or bad, and thus the importance of monitoring them. The third notes the importance of independently searching for answers to issues rather than blindly accepting what others say.

“Are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of your soul?” This statement is consistent with the western moral view that has been present from Socrates’ time until recently, but it challenges our culture’s current idea that we should never feel ashamed. In fact, he makes clear that we should feel ashamed of some behaviors. (Note: His last line about the soul may seem to imply Socrates held a specific religious belief. However, whether he did is not known. He sometimes used the singular term “God” and at other times the plural term “Gods.” Nevertheless, his views of wisdom and truth and soul clearly convey his recognition of goodness and virtue, vice and evil, and the importance of feeling shame for the latter.)

“True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.” This statement emphasizes how understanding our intellectual imperfection, also known as humility, leads us to wisdom. And it clearly implies that lacking such understanding and humility prevents us from gaining wisdom. This insight is especially meaningful in our age that falsely advises self-adulation rather than humility.

“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” This statement states in simple terms the first important step in finding the truth about anything and thus recovering common sense. However, we must keep in mind (as Socrates certainly knew) that not everything that is written is true, let alone wise. We must therefore weigh each point of view on the issue, including the validity of the evidence offered in support of it, and then decide accordingly. 

These samples of Socrates’ writings reveal a few of his many insights. The next essay will present others.

Copyright © 2026 by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero. All rights reserved.