Heloise Quotes
Heloise of Argenteuil was a 12th-century French nun, abbess, and philosopher, one of the most learned women of medieval Europe and an important early voice in the medieval Latin philosophical tradition. Her surviving Latin letters to her former lover and husband, the philosopher and theologian Peter Abelard, are masterpieces of Latin epistolary prose and develop a distinctive ethics of intention, friendship, and the relation of love to virtue. The quotes below are attributed to Heloise, organized by topic.
Browse Heloise by topic
Heloise on Knowledge
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“Domino suo, imo Patri; Conjugi suo, imo Fratri; Ancilla sua, imo Filia; ipsius Uxor, imo Soror; Abaelardo Heloisa, &c. Abel. Op.”
To her Lord, her Father; her Husband, her Brother; his Servant his Child; his Wife, his Sister; and to express all that is humble, respectful and loving to her Abelard , Heloise writes this. Letter II : Heloise to Abelard, Heading -
“To her Lord, her Father; her Husband, her Brother; his Servant his Child; his Wife, his Sister; and to express all that is humble, respectful and loving to her Abelard , Heloise writes this. Letter II : Heloise to Abelard, Heading”
Domino suo, imo Patri; Conjugi suo, imo Fratri; Ancilla sua, imo Filia; ipsius Uxor, imo Soror; Abaelardo Heloisa, &c. Abel. Op. -
“Letter II : Heloise to Abelard”
A consolatory letter of yours to a friend happened some days since to fall into my hands. My knowledge of the character, and my love of the hand, soon gave me the curiosity to open it. In justification of the liberty I took, I flattered myself I might claim a sovereign privilege over every thing which came from you nor was I scrupulous to break thro' the rules of good breeding, when it was to hear -
“Letter IV : Heloise to Abelard”
I own, to my confusion, I fear more the offending of man than the provoking of God, and study less to please him than you. Yes, it was your command only, and not a sincere vocation, as is imagined, that shut me up in these cloisters. I fought to give you ease, and not to sanctify myself. How unhappy am I? I tear myself from all that pleases me? I bury myself here alive, I exercise my self in the m -
“Letter IV : Heloise to Abelard”
What occasion had you to praise me? praise is often hurtful to those on whom it is bestowed. A secret vanity springs up in the heart, blinds us, and conceals from us wounds that are ill cured. A seducer flatters us, and at the same time, aims at our destruction. A sincere friend disguises nothing from us, and from passing a light hand over the wound, makes us feel it the more intensely, by applyin -
“Letter IV : Heloise to Abelard”
The heart of man is a labyrinth, whose windings are very difficult to be discovered. The praises you give me are the more dangerous, in regard that I love the person who gives them. The more I desire to please you, the readier am I to believe all the merit you attribute to me. Ah, think rather how to support my weaknesses by wholesome remonstrances! Be rather fearful than confident of my salvation
Heloise on Love
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Attributed to Heloise:
“I never sought anything in you but yourself.”
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Attributed to Heloise:
“I would have had no hesitation, God knows, in following you or going ahead at your bidding to the flames of hell.”
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Attributed to Heloise:
“How can a marriage be called holy when the partners are joined for the sake of money or power, not for love?”
Heloise on Virtue
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Attributed to Heloise:
“It is not the deed itself but the intention of the doer which makes the crime.”
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Attributed to Heloise:
“If we judge of the merit of acts according to the intention of the agent, then nothing can be more remote from praise or blame than the body.”