The Two Parts of Wisdom

Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But, while joined by many bonds, which one precedes and brings forth the other is not easy to discern.
John Calvin
Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559)

I’m reading a book on the Renaissance and Reformation called In Search of God and Self, and this quote is on its first page.

Upon some reflection, I considered that neither precedes from the other. Rather, the search for Truth and self-knowledge are two sides of one coin. Both precede from a single source.

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