In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus seeks knowledge and truth, although he is warned not to trifle with oracles. However, he is determined to unravel the mystery behind Laius' murder and learn the origins of his own identity. But was it better not to know? Is ignorance a blessing? People try to understand things that are beyond their ability to understand. Obvious examples might be sudden deaths or unexpected disasters. No one wants to feel like a victim of fate, but know that questions like: Is there a God? When someone believes they have an answer to a question that is not based on facts but rather on faith, then it is the epitome of arrogance. We see it today in religion, politics, science and even relationships. Instead, if they are aware of their reality, they often realize their shortcomings and feel more at peace. There are two reasons why someone becomes a know-it-all. First, they have an underlying insecurity that makes them think they need to know everything to reject any ideas that might make them seem inferior. And second, they have a genuine sense of superiority resulting from too much success, praise, or entitlement (Barth). And in really difficult cases, like Oedipus Rex, they are afflicted by both. To explain this, the young Oedipus developed a deep insecurity when he was in Corinth after Phoebus told him that he would mate with his mother and kill his father (791-795). This forced him to flee his hometown forever to avoid his reported fate. After he answered the riddle of the Sphinx and stood as a mighty tower in Thebes, and was called the "Great King of Thebes", this is a king who thought that if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail at anything. So, he offered a prize to anyone who could teach him the right way to achieve this goal. After several prompts from the knowledgeable me, he expectantly found his answer from a wise hermit who said: “Remember then: there is only one moment that is important: now! It's the most important moment because it's the only moment we have power." The common man pursues success and happiness, however individually defined. To get there, he must develop a sense of self-confidence. Many do this by burying themselves in books, some flood their time with life experiences, while others, less ambitious, create a sense of superiority by acting as if they know everything. But why do we want to know what we don't know? Fate versus free will, knowledge and truth, tenacity and power are all themes in Oedipus Rex and common topics for the omniscient to ponder. However, the future will reveal itself depending on the choices we make and how we deal with uncertainties. In everyday life, it is important for people to keep an open mind because they are people who tend to be able to see things from all sides, which helps eliminate preconceived notions. Knowing that we know what we know and knowing that we don't know what we don't know, that is true knowledge. - Nicolaus