Bede Quotes on Knowledge
Bede (c.673–735) — the Anglo-Saxon monk whose long career at the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow produced the most extensive surviving early-medieval English scholarly corpus — gave Anglo-Saxon Christian learning its most influential synthesis. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731) supplies the principal narrative source for early Anglo-Saxon Christianity, while the long sequence of biblical commentaries, the chronological-computistical works (especially De Temporum Ratione), and the natural-philosophical writings provide a comprehensive monastic encyclopedia integrating Latin patristic learning with the early-medieval Northumbrian intellectual context. The framework, transmitted through the Carolingian renaissance and the broader medieval Latin tradition, supplied the principal early-medieval English philosophical-theological model and earned Bede the eventual title Doctor of the Church (1899) for his contributions to the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Quotes
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Attributed to Bede:
“It is better to teach the ignorant than to remain silent.”
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Attributed to Bede:
“Better the simple brother who, doing the good he knows, gains heaven, than the learned one who knows much and lives ill.”
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Attributed to Bede:
“Time is what the wise measure carefully and the foolish waste.”
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Attributed to Bede:
“Better learning lit by faith than learning that knows no God.”
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“Rursus ergo interrogavit quod esset vocabulum gentis illius. Responsum est quod Angli vocarentur. At ille: "Bene", inquit, "nam et angelicam habent faciem et tales angelorum in caelis decet esse cohaeredes. Quod habet nomen ipsa provincia, de qua isti sunt adlati?" Responsum est quod Deiri vocarentur idem provinciales. At ille: "Bene", inquit, "Deiri; de ira eruti, et ad misericordiam Christi vocati. Rex provinciae illius quomodo apellatur?" Responsum est quod Aelli diceretur. At ille adludens ad nomen ait: "Alleluia, laudem Dei creatoris illis in partibus oportet cantari.”
He therefore again asked, what was the name of that nation? and was answered, that they were called Angles. "Right," said he, "for they have an angelic face, and it is meet that such should be co-heirs with the Angels in heaven. What is the name of the province from which they are brought?" It was replied, that the natives of that province were called Deiri. "Truly are they De ira ," said he," sav -
“Tanta eo tempore pax in Britannia fuisse perhibetur, ut, sicut usque hodie in proverbio dicitur, etiamsi mulier una cum recens nato parvulo vellet totam perambulare insulam a mari ad mare, nullo se laedente valeret.”
It is told that there was then such perfect peace in Britain, wheresoever the dominion of King Edwin extended, that, as is still proverbially said, a woman with her new-born babe might walk throughout the island, from sea to sea, without receiving any harm. Book II, chapter 16 -
“Fore there neidfaerae • naenig uuiurthit thoncsnotturra • than him tharf sie to ymbhycggannae • aer his hiniongae huaet his gastae • godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege • doemid uueorthae.”
Northumbrian (Early Anglian) (9th century) — St. Gall MS. 254, p.253, f.127 -
“Northumbrian (Early Anglian) (9th century) — St. Gall MS. 254, p.253, f.127”
Fore there neidfaerae • naenig uuiurthit thoncsnotturra • than him tharf sie to ymbhycggannae • aer his hiniongae huaet his gastae • godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege • doemid uueorthae. -
“For þam nedfere • næni wyrþeþ þances snotera, • þonne him þearf sy to gehicgenne • ær his heonengange hwæt his gaste • godes oþþe yfeles æfter deaþe heonon • demed weorþe.”
West Saxon (Early Saxon) (12th century) — Linc. Coll. Ox. MS. Lat. 31 -
“West Saxon (Early Saxon) (12th century) — Linc. Coll. Ox. MS. Lat. 31”
For þam nedfere • næni wyrþeþ þances snotera, • þonne him þearf sy to gehicgenne • ær his heonengange hwæt his gaste • godes oþþe yfeles æfter deaþe heonon • demed weorþe.