The one thing, the sole wisdom, the self that we should be knowing, is what the Stoics refer to as our ruling faculty. The ruling faculty is that part in us that is able to see ourselves as we really are, see how we live and work, and relentlessly fights for our true self, against all obstacles, in order to pursue a nobler course of action. This is knowing oneself—how to harness this driving force—a mere spark at first, then by efforts nourished into a flame and then a blazing fire and is the lesson of Solon’s exhortation: Pursue worthy aims.
