Theme

Self-examination philosophy quotes

Philosophy quotations on self-examination, gathered from verified English renderings across traditions.

Why this theme matters

This theme page collects 9 English passages that touch self-examination as a philosophical concern—whether as a concept to define, a value to pursue, or a problem to examine.

In the history of philosophy

Related discussions appear across Greek, Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and modern European traditions. Use the quotations below as entry points, then follow thinker pages for fuller context.

Thinkers in this collection

Socrates , Heraclitus , Hannah Arendt , Confucius , Zengzi , Dhammapada , Liang Qichao

Frequently asked questions

What did philosophers say about self-examination?

They approached self-examination from ethics, metaphysics, politics, and lived practice. The passages below show several of those angles in compact form.

Where can I find philosophy quotes about self-examination?

This archive page is organized for that search intent: verified English quotations, with links to thinkers and related themes.

How should I read these quotations?

Read the sentence first, then check school and source. A quotation is a doorway into an argument, not a substitute for the surrounding text.

  1. The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being.
  2. I searched for myself.
  3. Thinking is the habit of examining whatever happens to come to pass or to attract attention.
  4. The Master said: When three people walk together, one of them is sure to be my teacher. I select what is good in them and follow it; what is not good, I correct in myself.
  5. Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on three counts: In acting on behalf of others, have I been loyal? In dealings with friends, have I been trustworthy? Have I practiced what was passed on to me?
  6. The Master said: When you see the worthy, think of equaling them; when you see the unworthy, examine yourself within.
  7. The Master said: The gentleman seeks it in himself; the petty person seeks it in others.
  8. Let one not regard the faults of others, nor what others have done or left undone; let one regard rather one's own deeds, done and undone.
  9. If the youth are wise, the nation is wise; if the youth are prosperous, the nation is prosperous; if the youth are strong, the nation is strong.