Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes
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The reason for our loving God is God.
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True love does not demand a reward, but it deserves one.
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Let no one believe that he has received the divine kiss, if he knows the truth without loving it or loves it without understanding it. But blessed is that kiss whereby not only is God recognized but also the Father is loved; for there is never full knowledge without perfect love.
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Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
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The measure of love is love without measure.
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So far from being able to answer for my sins, I cannot even answer for my righteousness!
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Pride only, the chief of all iniquities, can make us treat gifts as if they were rightful attributes of our nature, and, while receiving benefits, rob our Benefactor of His due glory.
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Let your prayer for temporal blessings be strictly limited to things absolutely necessary.
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There are some who wish to learn for no other reason than that they may be looked upon as learned, which is ridiculous vanity ... Others desire to learn that they may morally instruct others, that is love. And, lastly, there are some who wish to learn that they may be themselves edified; and that is prudence.
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Learn first to love yourself, and then you can love me.
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You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision.
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Wherever...thou shalt be, pray secretly within thyself. If thou shalt be far from a house of prayer, give not thyself trouble to seek for one, for thou thyself art a sanctuary designed for prayer. If thou shalt be in bed, or in any other place, pray there; thy temple is there.
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All things are possible to one who believes.
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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.
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And truly, O man, if you concentrate hard on the state you are in it will be surprising if you have time for anything else.
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I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.
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Nothing can work me damage except myself. The harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault.
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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.
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Jesus to me is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, a song in the heart.
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God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.
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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.
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The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.
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Jesus, what made You so small? LOVE!
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God will either give us what we ask, or what He knows to be better for us.