"Woodcut from Johann Kaspar Lavater, Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung der Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe (1775–1778)
"Know thyself" is a philosophical maxim originating in ancient Greece. Its wisdom has endured for millennia and remains relevant for us today.
The Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) outlined the theory of four temperaments, linking them to how four bodily fluids — blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm — affect personality traits and behaviors. According to this theory, each fluid was associated with distinct personality patterns and influenced one's susceptibility to illness.
Regardless of the actual relationship between internal secretions and behavior, this way of describing human personality through the four classical temperaments is timeless and powerful.
There are four temperaments: the choleric, the sanguine, the melancholic, and the phlegmatic. The temperaments are always mixed together, but usually, one tends to dominate. In other words, no temperament exists in isolation. While one temperament may predominate, other traits can color its expression.
Contemporary educators increasingly recognize that a well-rounded education requires not just intellectual development but also the training of the will and of the emotions. To put it another way, developing character can be more crucial than acquiring knowledge.
Intellectual ability alone does not guarantee that a person will be able to overcome life's challenges or maintain moral integrity during difficult times. Only a strong will and a firm character enable man to face such trials without faltering. Life is full of trials, which is why developing strong character is essential.
The study of the temperaments is a reliable way to know oneself better. For if a man understands his temperament, he'll be able to more easily guide and control himself. By recognizing the temperament of others, he'll be better equipped to understand and help them.
