20 quotes
Often the hearts of men and women are stirred, as likewise they are soothed in their sorrows, more by example than by words.
Historia Calamitatum (1132)
The purpose and cause of the incarnation was that He might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself.
The Abelardian Doctrine Of The Atonement (1892)
The fathers did not themselves believe that they, or their companions, were always right. Augustine found himself mistaken in some cases and did not hesitate to retract his errors.
Sic et Non (1120)
The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning.
Sic et Non (1120)
When love has once been sincere, how difficult it is to determine to love no more? 'Tis a thousand times more easy to renounce the world than love.
By doubting we come to examine, and by examining we reach the truth.
Sic et Non (1120)
I give you advice, which could I myself follow, I should be happy.
We fluctuate long between love and hatred before we can arrive at tranquillity.
I have ventured to bring together various dicta of the holy fathers, as they came to mind, and to formulate certain questions which were suggested by the seeming contradictions in the statements.
Sic et Non (1120)
Q1 Must human faith be completed by reason, or not?
Sic et Non (1120)
Q3 Is there any knowledge of things unseen, or not?
Sic et Non (1120)
The things said by the philosopher must be taken metaphorically…that the soul is located in the middle of the world symbolizes that divine grace if offered to all in general.
Q2 Does faith deal only with unseen things, or not?
Sic et Non (1120)
Q4 May one believe only in God alone, or not?
Sic et Non (1120)
Q5 Is God a single unitary being, or not?
Sic et Non (1120)
Sometimes I grieve for the house of the Paraclete, and wish to see it again. Ah, Philintus! does not the love of Heloise still burn in my heart? I have not yet triumphed over that happy passion.
Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.
There are many seeming contradictions and even obscurities in the innumerable writings of the church fathers. Our respect for their authority should not stand in the way of an effort on our part to come at the truth.
Sic et Non (1120)
How mighty are the Sabbaths,
How mighty and how deep,
That the high courts of heaven
To everlasting keep.
In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention. Whence when the same thing is done by the same man at different times, by the diversity of his intention, however, his action is now said to be good, now bad.