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The proper study of mankind is man.

Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man

Literature

The story behind the card

This line opens the second part, or epistle, of Pope's An Essay on Man (1733–34). The full couplet reads: ‘Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; / The proper study of Mankind is Man.’ Pope's advice: rather than prying into God's plans, which lie beyond us, study human nature. ‘Know thyself’ echoes the words inscribed at Apollo's temple at Delphi. Alexander Pope (1688–1744) also gave English ‘to err is human, to forgive divine’ and ‘a little learning is a dangerous thing’.

Türkçe oku
İnsanoğlunun asıl inceleme konusu insandır.
Alexander Pope, İnsan Üzerine Bir Deneme

Bu dize, Pope'un İnsan Üzerine Bir Deneme (1733-1734) adlı şiirinin ikinci bölümünü açar. Beytin tamamı şöyledir: “Öyleyse kendini bil, Tanrı'yı çözmeye kalkışma; insanoğlunun asıl inceleme konusu insandır.” Pope'a göre aklımızın ermeyeceği tanrısal planları kurcalamak yerine insan doğasını anlamaya çalışmalıyız. “Kendini bil” ifadesi, Delfi'deki Apollon Tapınağı'nda yazılı olan ünlü öğüdü hatırlatır. “Hata yapmak insana, bağışlamak Tanrı'ya özgüdür” ve “Az bilgi tehlikeli bir şeydir” sözleri de Alexander Pope'a (1688-1744) aittir.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Alexander Pope
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