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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

It was love that motivated His self-emptying, that led Him to become a little lower than angels, to be subject to parents, to bow His head beneath the Baptist’s hands, to endure the weakness of the flesh, and to submit to death even upon the cross
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Angel Benefit Hands led Motivated Self
Humility in furs is better than pride in tunics.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Better Fur Humility Pride
If anyone makes himself his own master in the spiritual life, he makes himself scholar to a fool.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Fool Masters Spiritual
If you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself I you have resolved to abandon your sins.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Confession Saint Sin
To serve Mary is a mark of eternal salvation to come.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Mark Mary Salvation
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
He won me over entirely by giving Himself entirely to me.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Faith Giving Inspiration
Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Charity Poison Slander
Who loves me will love my dog also.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Animal Creature Dog
There is no greater misery than false joys.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Greater Joy Misery
So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot even answer for my righteousness!
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Able Answers Righteousness Sin
All things are possible to one who believes.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

All Believe Possible Things
As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations the path that leads to humility.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Humility Path Study
Humility is, of all graces, the chiefest when it does not know itself to be a grace at all.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Grace Humility Know
The tears of those repenting are the wine of angels.
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Angel Tears Wine
The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man’s heart.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Heart Men River
My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better course of action. If you will promise to do this, I in return promise to entreat the merciful Lord to grant you offspring.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Children Kings Promise Upon Urge
What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Cease Except Feed Fire Hate Self
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

Heart Love Self Soul
God will either give us what we ask, or what He knows to be better for us.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Giving Gods Will Knows
The Eucharist is that love which surpasses all loves in Heaven and on earth
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Earth Eucharist Heaven
Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Enjoyment Love May Order
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
Your actions in passing, pass not away, for every good work is a grain of seed for eternal life.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Action Good Life Work
Jesus, what made You so small? LOVE!
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Jesus Made Sacrament
Believe one who has tried, you shall find a fuller satisfaction in the woods than in the books. The trees and the rocks will teach you that which you cannot hear from the masters.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Believe Book Nature Satisfaction Tree
Love is alone sufficient by itself, it pleases by itself and for it’s own sake. It is itself a merit, and itself it’s own recompense. It seeks neither cause, nor consequences beyond itself. It is its own fruit, its own object and usefulness. I love because I love you, I love that I may love.
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Emotion Love May Recompose Sake Sufficient

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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