From the beginning of the Olympic Movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin sought to ground physical development in the great intellectual traditions of Western culture.  Referring to Socrates' enduring axiom—Know Thyself—Coubertin made self-knowledge a prerequisite of the athletic endeavor.  He believed that only by knowing himself would the athlete appreciate, understand and fully enjoy the benefits he gained from the disciplines of sport.  This passage is from an article on ‘The Philosophy of Physical Culture,’ which appeared in the May 1909 edition of the Olympic Review.

“Know Thyself:  In some ways, this ancient precept is the be-all and end-all of physical culture, summarizing its requirements and objectives. Man himself is the main artisan of improvements in the human body. To work effectively toward improving himself, a man must, first and foremost, know himself.”