Alcuin

Alcuin (Latinised: Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus; circa 735 – 19 May 804) was a Northumbrian scholar, theologian and catholic educator who taught for the court of Charlemagne.

Quotes

• I, your Flaccus, am busy carrying out your wishes and instructions at St. Martin's, giving some the honey of the holy scriptures, making others drunk on the old wine of ancient learning.
  • Letter to Charlemagne (796)

• Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.
  • And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.
  • Variant translation: We should not listen to those who like to affirm that the voice of the people is the voice of God, for the tumult of the masses is truly close to madness.
  • Works, Epistle 127 to Charlemagne (800)

• What makes bitter things sweet? Hunger.
  • Disputation of Pepin with Albinus

• Quapropter potius animam curare memento, quam carnem, quoniam haec manet, illa perit
  • Therefore remember to care rather for the soul than the flesh, for this remains and that perishes.
  • Epitaph at St. Martin of Tours abbey