You May Not Know What You Think You Already Know
Welcome back to Mid-Week Meditations , Lifehacker’s weekly dive into the pool of stoic wisdom and how you can use its waters to meditate and improve your life.
This week’s Stoic quote comes from the Greek philosopher Epictetus , who was born a slave and his teachings were written down by one of his disciples. These writings would eventually become his Conversations and Enchiridion .
“It is impossible for a person to know what, in his opinion, he already knows.” -Epictet, Conversations , Book II, ch. 17
Another translation:
“What is the first business of a philosopher? To get rid of self-esteem. For no one can begin to study what, in his opinion, he already knows. ” -Epictet, Conversations , Book II, ch. 17
What does it mean
Whether it’s a skill, a craft, or just general knowledge, improving yourself is learning. But you cannot learn if you think you have nothing to learn. What if what you know is just one of many possibilities, and some are better than others? What if what you know could be improved further based on what others know? What if what you know is actually wrong?
If you don’t show humility and don’t approach everything as an empty vessel willing to humble yourself, you won’t grow up. Never assume that your mind is full or that what you know takes precedence over what others know. After all, how could progress be made in any area if everyone assumed they knew everything as soon as they learned something ? This is arrogant and stupid, even for those in the top positions in their field.
What to take from there
No matter what you do in life, keep hungry to learn. Choose a mind that is always a beginner, constantly looking for another angle. Take it easy when you are wrong and have fun when it happens. If you are teaching a lesson, that’s okay. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and sound like an amateur. An open mind can be your biggest asset if you allow it to do so.
We are stubborn creatures who want to think that we are smarter or more capable than others, but the hope that you are better makes you worse. Let go of the ego and accept your place as an eternal disciple. Besides, nobody likes a know-it-all , and real “experts” admit when they don’t know something. Why? Because they would like to learn it.
You can read all of Epictetus’s Conversations for free here .