Peter Abelard Quotes
Peter Abelard was a French philosopher, logician, and theologian and one of the most original thinkers of the twelfth century. He made decisive contributions to the problem of universals, arguing for a moderate position now usually called conceptualism, and he developed an ethics centered on the intention of the agent rather than on the outward act. The quotes below are attributed to Peter Abelard, organized by topic.
Browse Peter Abelard by topic
Peter Abelard on God
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“How mighty are the Sabbaths, How mighty and how deep, That the high courts of heaven To everlasting keep. "Sabbato ad Vesperas", line 1; translation from Helen Waddell Mediaeval Latin Lyrics ( 1933) p. 163”
O quanta qualia sunt illa sabbata, quae semper celebrat superna curia. -
“Q1 Must human faith be completed by reason, or not?”
Wikiquote -
“How mighty are the Sabbaths, How mighty and how deep, That the high courts of heaven To everlasting keep.”
"Sabbato ad Vesperas", line 1; translation from Helen Waddell Mediaeval Latin Lyrics ([1929] 1933) p. 163 -
“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)
Peter Abelard on Justice
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“In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention. Whence when the same thing is done by the same man at different times, by the diversity of his intention, however, his action is now said to be good, now bad. Ethica, seu Scito Teipsum , Bk. 1; translation by D E Luscombe from Peter Abelard's Ethics (1971) p. 53”
Bonam quippe intentionem, hoc est, rectam in se dicimus, operationem vero non quod boni aliquid in se suscipiat, sed quod ex bona intentione procedat. Unde et ab eodem homine cum in diversis temporibus idem fiat, pro diversitate tamen intentione eius operatio modo bono modo mala dicitur.
Peter Abelard on Knowledge
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“The first key to wisdom is assiduous and frequent questioning.”
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. These questions ought to serve to excite tender readers to a zealous inquiry into truth and so sharpen their wits. The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning. Aristotle -
Attributed to Peter Abelard:
“I have learnt that the name of philosopher signifies a lover of wisdom.”
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“Bonam quippe intentionem, hoc est, rectam in se dicimus, operationem vero non quod boni aliquid in se suscipiat, sed quod ex bona intentione procedat. Unde et ab eodem homine cum in diversis temporibus idem fiat, pro diversitate tamen intentione eius operatio modo bono modo mala dicitur.”
In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention. Whence when the same thing is done by the same man at different times, by the diversity of his intention, however, his action is now said to be good, now bad. Ethica, seu Scito Teipsum , Bk. 1; translation by D E Luscombe from Peter Abelard's E -
“O quanta qualia sunt illa sabbata, quae semper celebrat superna curia.”
How mighty are the Sabbaths, How mighty and how deep, That the high courts of heaven To everlasting keep. "Sabbato ad Vesperas", line 1; translation from Helen Waddell Mediaeval Latin Lyrics ( 1933) p. 163 -
“The purpose and cause of the incarnation was that He might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself.”
As quoted in "The Abelardian Doctrine Of The Atonement" (1892), published in Doctrine and Development : University Sermons (1898) by Hastings Rashdall, p. 138 -
“Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth .”
Sic et Non(1120) | Prologue as translated in A History of Education During the Middle Ages and the Transition to Modern Times (1918) by Frank Pierrepont Graves; 2005 edition, p. 53 -
“Q3 Is there any knowledge of things unseen, or not?”
Sic et Non(1120)
Peter Abelard on Time
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“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 . The obscurity and contradictions in ancient writings may be explained upon many grounds, and may be discussed without impugning the good faith and insight of the fathers. A writer ma”
Prologue as translated in Readings in European History , Vol. I (1904) edited by James Harvey Robinson , p. 450 -
“Doubtless the fathers might err ; even Peter , the prince of the apostles, fell into error: what wonder that the saints do not always show themselves inspired? 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. He warns his admirers not to look upon his letters as they ”
Prologue as translated in Readings in European History , Vol. I (1904) edited by James Harvey Robinson , p. 450 -
“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. These questions ought to serve to excite tender readers to a zealous inquiry into truth and so sharpen their wits. The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning. Aristotle ”
Introduction as translated in Readings in European History , Vol. I (1904) edited by James Harvey Robinson , p. 451
Peter Abelard on Truth
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“By doubting we are led to inquiry, and by inquiry we discern the truth.”
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. These questions ought to serve to excite tender readers to a zealous inquiry into truth and so sharpen their wits. The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning. Aristotle
Peter Abelard on Virtue
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Attributed to Peter Abelard:
“There is no sin unless through consent.”
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Attributed to Peter Abelard:
“It is not the deed but the intention of the doer that makes the sin.”
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Attributed to Peter Abelard:
“In adversity men's true character is most clearly revealed.”