Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes on God
Bernard of Clairvaux was a French Cistercian abbot, mystical theologian, and one of the most influential figures of the twelfth century. This page collects quotes attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux on the topic of god, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“The reason for loving God is God himself; the measure of love is to love without measure.”
On Loving God , Ch. 6, as translated in Leon Cristiani, St. Bernard of Clairvaux , trans. M. Angeline Bouchard (Boston: St. Paul Editions, 1983), p. 102 -
Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux:
“Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God.”
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“I have freed my soul.”
Liberavi animam meam. -
“Our King [ Jesus ] is accused of treachery; it is said of him [by the Muslims] that he is not God, but that he falsely pretended to be something he was not.”
As quoted in Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? : Understanding the Differences between Christianity and Islam (2002) by Timothy George, p. 49 -
“Among us on the earth there is His memory; but in the Kingdom of heaven His very Presence. That Presence is the joy of those who have already attained to beatitude ; the memory is the comfort of us who are still wayfarers, journeying towards the Fatherland .”
On Loving God(c. 1128–1129) | On Loving God , Ch. 3, Paul Halsall trans. -
“Alternate translation: God cannot suffer, but He can have compassion.”
Sermons on the Song of Songs(1135–1153) -
“On Loving God , Ch. 3, Paul Halsall trans.”
On Loving God(c. 1128–1129) -
“God cannot suffer, but is not without compassion.”
Sermons on the Song of Songs(1135–1153)