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Quotes from Sic et Non — Peter Abelard

d. 1142 France

← All quotes by Peter Abelard

10 quotes

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)

By doubting we come to examine, and by examining we reach the truth.

Sic et Non (1120)

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)

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)

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)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Peter Abelard (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.