"The Buried Classic" from Ancient Greece, and the roots of the Western World .... The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Philostratus {220 AD} Of Self Knowledge and of Man and Gods
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Spring of 1995

Of Self Knowledge and of Man and Gods

"Ask whatever you like, for you find yourself among people who know everything."

Apollonius then asked him whether they knew themselves also, thinking that he, like the Greeks, would regard self-knowledge as a difficult matter.

But the other, contrary to Apollonius' expectations, corrected him and said: "We know everything, just because we begin by knowing ourselves; for no one of us would be admitted to this philosophy unless he first knew himself."

And Apollonius remembered what he had heard Phraotes say, and how he who would become a philosopher must examine himself before he undertakes the task; and he therefore acquiesced in this answer, for he was convinced of its truth in his own case also.

He accordingly asked a fresh question, namely, who they considered themselves to be; and the other answered " We consider ourselves to be Gods."

Apollonius asked afresh: "Why ?"

"Because," said the other, "we are good men."

This reply struck Apollonius as so instinct with trained good sense that he subsequently mentioned it to Domitian in his defence of himself.

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"The Buried Classic" from Ancient Greece, and the roots of the Western World .... The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Philostratus {220 AD} Of Self Knowledge and of Man and Gods
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Spring of 1995