Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Know Thyself and Jung's Persona. Many believe that Socrates stated, 'Know Thyself.' Actually the ancient utterer is historically unknown. The statement was carved in stone at the entrance Or the forecourt at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. The original meaning was, 'Know your limitations as a mortal;' The boundaries between human abilities and divine power. A further interpretation could be, 'Know your place' In Greek society, where most everything Is decided by society for one's life-pattern. Carl Jung goes one step further with his 'analytical psychology,' And considers the 'social mask' of every human. His 'persona' is the interface between the conscious ego and society. It considers how one presents oneself to others to fit in. One compromises between one's own nature and social expectations: A doctor shows 'bedside manners,' As does a teacher,.a 'professional persona.' A danger exists if one over-identifies with one's mask-- That person's actual personality might be dangerously suppressed. Jung's 'persona' considers theatrical masks and its Latin root, Where 'persona' means 'mask' or 'false face.' Per-sona in Latin is 'to sound through' because Ancient clay or wooden masks had internal mouthpieces, Which were tiny megaphones through which the voice Resonated across the open-air theatre. As with many words, 'mask' or 'persona' first meant the actual mask, Then the actual played-character, to the modern English, 'person.' Consider my, 'Conversation,' (opus 861) Where the 14th-century meaning was about How one fit into society, which had nothing to do with talking! It is fun and perhaps dangerous for each of us to consider All the masks we wear as we go through the day. Possibly, if one would act in a child-like manner, That might be the most honest of all the masks! Just thinking out loud. Frank Maurer 14 June 2026 1610 Hours.