black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

there are four degrees of love: 1) Love of self for self’s sake. 2) Love of God for self’s sake. 3) Love of God for God’s own sake. 4) Love of self for God’s sake.

Bernard of Clairvaux

Thus understanding and love, that is, the knowledge of and delight in the truth, are, as it were, the two arms of the soul, with which it embraces and comprehends with all the saints the length and breath, the height and depth, that is the eternity, the love, the goodness, and the wisdom of God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Arm Delight Knowledge Soul Two Understanding
Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself… Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Christ Cry Heart Love Mystery Nail Sacred
There are three distinct comings of the Lord of which I know: His coming to men, His coming into men, and His coming against men.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Coming Men Saint Three
Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek for God.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Financial Mazes Stewardship
Do what Jesus says… what he commands through his ministers who are in the Church [see 1 Cor 6:4]. Be subject to his vicars, your leaders, not only those who are gentle and kind, but even those who are overbearing [see 1 Pt 2:18].
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Church Command Jesus Leader Minister
From the best bliss that earth imparts, we turn unfilled to Thee again.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Bliss Earth Thee
Vines and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Learning Tree Vines
Let us affectionately love His angels as counselors and defenders appointed by the Father and placed over us. They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Angel Faithful Father Powerful
A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Break Friendship Lacking
Pride causes us to use our gifts as though they came from ourselves, not benefits received from God, and to usurp our benefactor’s glory.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Benefactor Benefits Pride Use
The more I contemplate God, the more God looks on me. The more I pray to him, the more he thinks of me too.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Looking Praying Thinking
Learn first to love yourself, and then you can love me.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Firsts Learning Love
There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Inspirational Life Vanity
I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Comprehend God Knows Own
Who loves me will love my dog also.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Animal Creature Dog
I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him that He will think of me; but I regard neither myself nor Him.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Heart Prayer Regard Thinking

there are four degrees of love: 1) Love of self for self’s sake. 2) Love of God for self’s sake. 3) Love of God for God’s own sake. 4) Love of self for God’s sake.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

there are four degrees of love: 1) Love of self for self’s sake. 2) Love of God for self’s sake. 3) Love of God for God’s own sake. 4) Love of self for God’s sake.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes