认识自己，了解自己的长处和短处。这是正确认识他人及一切事物的基础，也是不断超越自我、提升自我的前提。它往往是有智慧的人与杰出者的基本素质。它强调的是人的自我意识的觉醒、主体精神的树立，与古希腊“认识你自己”的理念相通。

The term means to have knowledge and understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses. This is the basis for knowing others and all other things. Further self-improvement and progress stem from this. Exceptional and wise people often demonstrate this quality. The focus is on developing a conscious sense of self, which echoes the ancient Greek axiom "know thyself."

引例 Citations：

◎知人者智，自知者明。（《老子·三十三章》）

善于了解别人，算得上有智慧；善于了解自己，才算得上圣明。

Knowing others is wisdom; knowing oneself is insight. (Laozi)

◎自知者不怨人，知命者不怨天。怨人者穷，怨天者无志。失之己，反之人，岂不迂乎哉！（《荀子·荣辱》）

有自知之明的人不会埋怨别人，懂得天命的人不会埋怨老天。只会埋怨别人的人会招致窘困，只会埋怨老天的人会失去志向。错在自己，却责怪别人，难道不觉得荒唐吗？

Those who have knowledge of themselves do not blame others; those who understand the will of heaven do not blame it. Blaming others creates difficulties for oneself; blaming heaven saps one's aspirations. Is it not ridiculous to blame others for one's own mistakes? (Xunzi)

◎故欲胜人者，必先自胜；欲论人者，必先自论；欲知人者，必先自知。（《吕氏春秋·先己》）

所以，如果想要战胜他人，必须先要战胜自己；如果想要评论他人，必须先要评论自己；如果想要了解他人，必须先要了解自己。

Therefore, to conquer others, first conquer yourself; to comment on others, first comment on yourself; and to know others, first know yourself. (Master Lyu's Spring and Autumn Annals)

推荐：教育部 国家语委

供稿：北京外国语大学 外语教学与研究出版社

责任编辑：钱耐安