Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes on Knowledge
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 knowledge, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
-
Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux:
“Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God.”
-
“Experto crede: aliquid amplius invenies in silvis, quam in libris. Ligna et lapides docebunt te, quod a magistris audire non possis.”
Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters. | Epistola CVI, sect. 2; translation from Edward Churton The Early English Church ( 1841) p. 324 -
“Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters.”
Experto crede: aliquid amplius invenies in silvis, quam in libris. Ligna et lapides docebunt te, quod a magistris audire non possis. -
“Epistola CVI, sect. 2; translation from Edward Churton The Early English Church ( 1841) p. 324”
Experto crede: aliquid amplius invenies in silvis, quam in libris. Ligna et lapides docebunt te, quod a magistris audire non possis. -
“Liberavi animam meam.”
I have freed my soul. | Letter to Abbot Suger , Epistles no. 371 (c. 1147) -
“Letter to Abbot Suger , Epistles no. 371 (c. 1147)”
Liberavi animam meam. -
“Bestia illa de Apocalypsi, cui datum est os loquens blasphemias, et bellum gerere cum sanctis (Apoc. XIII, 5-7), Petri cathedram occupat, tanquam leo paratus ad praedam.”
That beast of the Apocalypse, to whom is given a mouth speaking blasphemies, and to make war with the saints, is sitting on the throne of Peter, like a lion ready for his prey. | To Magister Geoffrey of Loretto (afterwards Archbishop of Bordeaux), Letter 37 ( c . 1131), in Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (1904), Dr. Samuel John Eales, trans., John Hodges, London, p. 139. | That b -
“To Magister Geoffrey of Loretto (afterwards Archbishop of Bordeaux), Letter 37 ( c . 1131), in Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (1904), Dr. Samuel John Eales, trans., John Hodges, London, p. 139.”
Bestia illa de Apocalypsi, cui datum est os loquens blasphemias, et bellum gerere cum sanctis (Apoc. XIII, 5-7), Petri cathedram occupat, tanquam leo paratus ad praedam. -
“That beast" to which Bernard refers is antipope Peter Leonis .”
Bestia illa de Apocalypsi, cui datum est os loquens blasphemias, et bellum gerere cum sanctis (Apoc. XIII, 5-7), Petri cathedram occupat, tanquam leo paratus ad praedam.