Importance of Self-Knowledge

“Any life, however long and complicated it may be, actually consists of a single moment; the moment when a person knows forever more who they are.”
----Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), Argentine author 

"The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love. 

Time may commence, but it cannot complete, the new birth: eternity does this; for progress is the law of infinity."

-Mary Baker Eddy
(Mis. 15:13–20)

"Anatomy, when conceived of spiritually, is mental self-knowledge, and consists in the dissection of thoughts to discover their quality, quantity, and origin. Are thoughts divine or human? That is the important question."
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
(SH 462:20–24)

"He who gains self-knowledge, self-control, and the kingdom of heaven within himself, within his own consciousness, is saved through Christ, Truth."
-Mary Baker Eddy
(My. 161:14–16)

"And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel."

(Luke 1:76–80)