All things without, which round about we see, We seek to know, and how therewith to do; But that whereby we reason, live, and be, Within ourselves we strangers are thereto. We seek to know the moving of each sphere, And the strange cause of th ebbs and floods of Nile; But of that clock within our breasts we bear, The subtle motions we forget the while. We that acquaint ourselves with every zone, And pass both tropics and behold the poles, When we come home, are to ourselves unknown, And unacquainted still with our own souls. We study speech, but others we persuade; We leech-craft learn, but others cure with it; We interpret laws, which other men have made, But read not those which in our hearts are writ. Is it because the mind is like the eye, Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees-- Whose rays reflect not, but spread outwardly-- Not seeing itself when other things it sees? from Nosce Teipsum by Sir John Davies (1569-1626)
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:27:49 +0000
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