Pierre Abelard Quotes & Sayings

The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth. — Pierre Abelard

By doubting we come to the question, and by questioning we may come upon the truth. — Pierre Abelard

I had wished to find in philosophy and religion a remedy for my disgrace; I searched out an asylum to secure me from love ... duty, reason and decency, which upon other occasions have some power over me, are here useless. The Gospel is a language I do not understand when it opposes my passion ... but when love has once been sincere how difficult it is to determine to love no more! 'Tis a thousand times more easy to renounce the world than love. I hate this deceitful, faithless world; I think no more of it ... — Pierre Abelard

By doubting we come to enquiry, and through enquiry we perceive truth. — Pierre Abelard

The key to wisdom is this
constant and frequent questioning ... for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth. — Pierre Abelard

For my part, the more I went forward in the study of letters, and ever more easily, the greater became the ardour of my devotion to them, until in truth I was so enthralled by my passion for learning that, gladly leaving to my brothers the pomp of glory in arms, the right of heritage and all the honours that should have been mine as the eldest born, I fled utterly from the court of Mars that I might win learning in the bosom of Minerva. And
since I found the armory of logical reasoning more to my liking than the other forms of philosophy, I exchanged all other weapons for these, and to the prizes of victory in war I preferred the battle of minds in disputation. — Pierre Abelard

Against the disease of writing one must take special precautions, since it is a dangerous and contagious disease. — Pierre Abelard

Assiduous and frequent questioning is indeed the first key to wisdom ... for by doubting we come to inquiry; through inquiring we perceive the truth ... — Pierre Abelard