From The Lurker's Guide

(h/t to commenter Xuenay for nudging me there...)

If you decide what you want, before you know who you are, you're likely to get something that will destroy you; if you know who you are, you can then ask for something that will be of greater use to you.

- J. Michael Straczynski, commentary on the Babylon 5 episode Comes the Inquisitor

There are various ways to interpret the above quote -- I interpret it several different ways (and across several minor variations) simultaneously.

Definitely thought-provoking, at the very least. And no, the quote is not meant to imply (in any valid interpretation I can think of) that it is possible to really "know who you are" to 100% absolute, fixed certainty; if you're reading it that way, you're missing the point, as we humans are not 100% absolute and "fixed" in our configurations in the first place.

I think that's sort of part of the point.

That, and the fact that there are degrees and gradients as far as these things go.

I'm also reminded to some extent of the notion of Naming in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind In The Door.

*goes off to ponder some more, and then sleep*