Nick HutchisonFounder and CEO, BookThinkers

What I think the two MOST IMPORTANT words in human language are...

23 Aug 2023 · 1 min

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Nick Hutchison argues that "know thyself," attributed to Thales around 600 BCE, matters most because it demands quiet reflection followed by action. Social media keeps us from sitting alone for ten minutes, preventing the self-confrontation that real change requires.

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What do you think the 2 most important words in the history of human language are? I think they are know thyself, originally said by Thales in 600 BCE. Now Thales was sort of the father of philosophy, and the reason that I choose those 2 words, know thyself, is because they represent all of personal development and self-help. I mean, inner reflection and then taking action to improve your life. That's what knowing yourself is. You know, they say all of man's problems stem from his inability to sit in a room quietly for 10 minutes. That's because social media, it is distracting, and it doesn't give us time to think about ourselves. It's almost like that's the plan all along. So if you're looking for a little bit of reflection, check out The History of Philosophy by A.C. Grayling. Big book though.