A longtime Latin teacher explains why studying the ancient Greek and Roman world and learning Latin help to achieve one of the central goals of public education: helping students think deeply about how they want to live their lives and what they hope to accomplish. After all, knowing oneself is the first step in achieving success in areas one truly cares about. If educators and critics want children to achieve not just success, but a success they truly want, they must help them first understand themselves. Then, the children will know what they value and can focus on success in that area, whether it involves wealth, fame, or other less measurable but no less important achievements. One of the central goals of the school system, then, ought to be instruction in self-knowledge. (Contains 7 endnotes.)