Anselm of Canterbury
A Benedictine monk and archbishop, known for his ontological argument for the existence of God.
Most quoted
"I do not endeavor, O Lord, to penetrate your sublimity, for I do not in any way compare my understanding with that; but I desire to understand a certain measure of your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, that unless I believe, I shall not understand."
— from Proslogion, Chapter 1, 1078
"For the supreme Nature is not improperly said to be just, when it is considered as punishing the wicked; nor merciful, when it is considered as sparing them; nor is it said to be just from one quality, and merciful from another, but it is one and the same essence, which is viewed under different aspects."
— from Monologion, 1076
"For if it can be thought not to exist, it is not that than which nothing greater can be thought. But this is a contradiction. So truly, therefore, does a being exist than which nothing greater can be thought, that it cannot be thought not to exist."
— from Proslogion, Chapter 3, 1078
All quotes by Anselm of Canterbury (109)
Where art thou? Where do I not find thee? Thou hast made me.
I have found thee.
Now I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe; but I believe that I may understand.
For I believe this too, that 'unless you believe, you shall not understand.'
Insane is he who hears and yet does not believe.
The mind can see God directly through faith.
All things are from God, through God, and in God.
God is whatever it is better to be than not to be.
The supreme truth is the source of all truth.
Why did God become man? So that God, by reason of his divinity, should be the judge, and man, by reason of his humanity, should be the one judged.
God became man so that man might become God.
For nothing is so great as the satisfaction of sinning less.
The incarnation was necessary for the restoration of human nature.
Justice requires satisfaction for sin.
Man owes to God more than he can repay.
The debt of sin is infinite because it is owed to an infinite God.
Only God can make satisfaction for sin.
Yet man must make the satisfaction.
Hence, God became man.
I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand.
Contemporaries of Anselm of Canterbury
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109).