However, there is a saying that is pretty much the rule of Autism, and that is "Know Thyself." That saying is often associated with Socrates. Little is known about Socrates-he was, after all, born in 470 B.C.
We've talked about autistic war heroes (i.e. Joan of Arc, Stonewall Jackson, and George Washington) and that could be attributed to Socrates as well. Athenian law required all able-bodied males to serve as citizen soldiers (almost like today's state defense forces!) According to Plato, Socrates served in the armored infantry and was known for his fearlessness. However, his true love and interest was the intellectual development of the youths of Athens.
Socrates asked questions. He questioned everyone and everything, as a matter of fact, but did not lecture. As a matter of fact, he claimed that he knew nothing-"Know That You Know Nothing" was his philosophy. Many Athenians admired the contributions that Socrates made to challenge conventional Greek wisdom, however others felt that he threatened their way of life. Socrates was finally eventually condemned to death by poison.
Even all these years later, Socrates still shows the lasting contributions that people who "think outside the box" and dare to be different can make to society-if even a few are willing to listen and take them seriously.
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