The Socrates Quote That You’ll Relate To, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

I often find myself scouring the internet for quotes to inspire me, set me on the right track, or write on a post-it note to remind myself of my focus at the beginning of the day. Quotes can catalyze your day and make you focus on what’s really meaningful or important to you. Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher and the father of Western philosophy, has quite a few thoughts that resonate with me personally. I thought it would be interesting to see if he has a quote that each of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types would relate to, and with that in mind, I compiled this article. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do!

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our in-depth personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

The Socrates Quote You’ll Relate To, Based On Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

The INFJ

“Esteemed friend, citizen of Athens, the greatest city in the world, so outstanding in both intelligence and power, aren’t you ashamed to care so much to make all the money you can, and to advance your reputation and prestige–while for truth and wisdom and the improvement of your soul you have no care or worry?”

As an INFJ, you are always hungering for something intangible and meaningful. More than material gains, you see the value in insight, wisdom, and understanding. You believe meaning and purpose are the most significant and crucial parts of life; the things that will matter in the big picture. This Socrates quote delves deep into the core of your values as an INFJ and speaks to your ceaseless pursuit of meaning, authenticity, and personal integrity. It’s a call to action that aligns with your natural inclination to look inward and strive for personal growth and understanding, while also looking outward to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Find out more about INFJs: 4 Reasons You Might Be Lonely as an INFJ

The INTJ

“When you want wisdom and insight as badly as you want to breathe, it is then you shall have it.”

As an INTJ, you crave mastery, wisdom, and insight. A life lived for the day-to-day isn’t enough for you, there’s a hunger for something bigger and more meaningful. You want to understand the underlying principles of the universe, discover things that nobody has yet uncovered, and push yourself to higher levels of wisdom and clarity. This quote emphasizes the intensity and passion with which you approach your quest for enlightenment.

Discover more about INTJs: All About the INTJ Strategist

The ISFJ

 

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”

For ISFJs, life is about understanding and learning from past experience and seeing life for what it is. Most ISFJs I know keep things as long as possible, repurposing them if need be, to make the memory and importance of the object last. Many are deeply sentimental. But one thing that I believe ISFJs are especially good at is seeing the beauty in the small details that others overlook. Sensing-Judgers have an eye for detail and the history of things that many other types don’t. And because of this, rather than constantly chasing after a new object or a new idea, many ISFJs find continued joy with what they currently have.

The ISTJ

“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” – Socrates

ISTJs value knowledge, experience, and wisdom. When they want to buy something new, they’ll research and read reviews. When they inform their worldview, they’ll look for empirical data, evidence, and authoritative studies. For the ISTJ, careful, meticulous thinking and practicality are key. To be uninformed and make judgments without experience to them is an anathema.

The INFP

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”  – Socrates

Introspective and thoughtful, INFPs live in a world of quiet pondering and imagination. They believe in getting to know themselves, the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly – all of it. Having deep self-knowledge allows them to cultivate a powerful empathy that breaks barriers and sees the humanity in people that others discount or see as “bad.” For the INFP, self-knowledge is the first step to having any knowledge at all. Because how can you understand another person when you don’t even understand the inner workings of your own heart and soul?

Find out more about INFPs: The Top 25 Favorite INFP Movies

The INTP

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  – Socrates

This quote might seem misplaced for INTPs, who strive to know as much as humanly possible. But one thing that almost every INTP experiences at some point in their life is the awareness that the more they learn, the more they realize they can never know. They are constantly expanding their minds, realizing how many boundless areas there are to explore, mysteries to discover, and as yet unknown paths of knowledge in the universe. There’s nothing worse for an INTP then thinking you “know it all,” yet there is always wisdom in knowing that there are new layers to unearth, discover, and glean truth from.

Find out more about INTPs: 24 Signs That You’re an INTP, the Prodigy Personality Type

The ISFP

 

“Know thyself.”- Socrates

As introverted feeling types, ISFPs believe the path to true contentment and meaning is first knowing yourself. You must know what makes you tick, what makes you feel different emotions, and what motivates you and provides a sense of real authenticity. ISFPs use this deep self-knowledge to better empathize and connect with other human beings. The more they know their own inner workings the better they can grasp others’ inner workings and deeper desires. This creates an accepting, open-minded worldview for most ISFPs.

Discover more about ISFPs: Why ISFPs Struggle with Loneliness, and How to Cope

The ISTP

 

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”- Socrates

Quiet and contained, ISTPs are skeptical of taking anyone else’s word for anything. They have to know what they think; what makes sense to them. Independent thinking, questioning, and self-directed learning are all things that ISTPs do naturally. Yes, they want to learn all they can about the world and how it works, but they’re not going to take someone else’s word for it. They need to experiment, question, try, and understand through their own experience.

Find out more about ISTPs: 24 Signs That You’re an ISTP, the Vigilante Personality Type

The ENTJ

 

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

ENTJs are all about trailblazing, innovating, and exploring the unknown. More than working with tradition and the tried-and-true, they want to build something completely new and groundbreaking. They use existing rules, structures, and resources, and strategically map out a way to create something totally original. One of the strengths of this type is not to get hung up on past precedents but to create new plans and keep moving forward.

The ENFJ

 

“The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining an understanding of compassion.” – Socrates

As the Mentors of the personality world, ENFJs believe in catalyzing individuals towards their highest calling. They believe in inspiring, motivating, and understanding. Helping people find their potential, purpose, and meaning is one of the driving forces in their lives. This focus requires a great deal of compassion, insight, and empathy, which most ENFJs have in abundance.

The ESTJ

“Let him who would move the world first move himself.”  – Socrates

Dreaming up big ideas is all well and good for the ESTJ, but what’s more important is rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. ESTJs don’t see the point in complaining about the poor state of society or the world without first getting up and trying to make practical, real changes in their own communities. Grounded and productive, ESTJs believe in personal responsibility and making the most with what you’ve got. Change starts at a grassroots level, and ESTJs know how to get started there.

The ESFJ

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  – Socrates

ESFJs at their best are supportive, compassionate, and generous. They believe in bringing people together, forming and supporting communities, and giving everyone a sense of belonging. Kindness, politeness, and considerate behavior are things they prioritize and try to emulate in their day-to-day lives. They believe everyone’s experience is wholly unique and everyone deserves a friendly greeting, a warm smile, and the chance to find their place in a community.

The ENTP

“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think”  – Socrates

ENTPs believe in the importance of independent thinking. More than telling people how things should be and spitting out facts, ENTPs are about helping people learn to think clearly and rationally. They’d rather open someone’s mind to a new way of thinking than give them a few facts to hold onto. They’d rather pose questions that stop people in their tracks than teaching something that doesn’t allow the other person to really think for themselves. When it comes to helping others, ENTPs believe in sparking someone’s imagination, clearing up convoluted thinking, and giving them the tools they need to make more innovative but logical solutions.

The ENFP

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” – Socrates

Wonder is something that drives ENFPs to discover new ideas, brainstorm novel possibilities, or pose endless questions. For the ENFP, wonder is something that is always sparked in their soul; they’re always wondering, “What if?” and dreaming up new ways of improving the world. This curiosity, creativity, and passion is what makes them so inspiring to many other people. When everyone else sees closed doors, ENFPs are able to open a window of possibility that sparks new options.

The ESTP

“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”  – Socrates

ESTPs are action-driven individuals. They like to be up, moving, and challenging themselves. Most ESTPs I know prioritize working out their bodies, taking on physical challenges, and mapping out adventures. They want to be out there, scaling mountain peaks, swimming in the deepest seas, or using whatever physical means necessary to get the most out of life in the moment.

The ESFP

“Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued. ” – Socrates

For ESFPs, you only live once, and every moment should be maximized to its highest potential. Life shouldn’t be about meeting the status quo or keeping up with someone else’s expectations for you. It should be truly lived; it should be filled with meaning, friendships, and a sense of fun and excitement. Every moment should be treasured, because it’s the last moment like that you’ll ever have. ESFPs believe in seizing the day, making the moment count, and infusing fun and friendship into each day.

Find out more about ESFPs: 24 Signs That You’re an ESFP, the Champion Personality Type

What Are Your Thoughts?

Did the quote for your personality type inspire you? Do you think a different quote would have been more fitting? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!