Hugh of Saint Victor

Saint Hugh of Saint Victor (c. 1096 – 11 February 1141) was a Saxon canon regular and a leading philosopher, theologian, cardinal, and writer on mystical theology.

Quotes

(About the Assumption of Mary) She who was conceived without spot and borne without pain, who became mother without loss of virginity, who placed God in the world, who died without suffering, was also preserved from corruption; and we believe she lives in heaven with her body. It is piously believed.
- Hugh of Saint Victor, Miscellanea, 1.VI, c. 125, PL, 177, 808. As reported in Joseph Duhr, SJ, The Glorious Assumption of the Mother of God, translated by John Manning Frances, SJ, Pç.J. Kenedy & Sons, New York, June 1950 (with nihil obstat by John M.A. Fearns, S.T.D., and imprimatur by Cardinal Francis Spellman given on September 18, 1950), p. 62 (of 153). OCLC 2212367.

Of all the things to seek, the first is wisdom, in which lies the form of perfect goodness.

Tell me, I beg you, what – among all things – has become the one thing for you, the thing you want to embrace in a unique way and enjoy forever.

Omnia disce. Videbis postea nihil esse superfluum. Coartata scientia iucunda non est.

Didascalicon, VI, 3.
Learn everything. You will see that nothing will be superfluous later on. Limited knowledge is not joyful.

Delicatus ille est adhuc cui patria dulcis est; fortis autem iam, cui omne solum patria est; perfectus vero, cui mundus totus exsilium est.

Love seems to be the satisfaction of a person's heart towards something, because of something: it presents itself as desire in the search, and happiness in the satisfaction of possession; it appears as a race, as far as desire is concerned, and as rest, as far as the joy of possession is concerned.

You have given me perfection of sensitivity, quickness of intelligence, strength of memory; you have given me the ability to express myself fluently, to present my thoughts pleasantly, to teach convincingly, to carry out my intentions, to behave pleasantly, to progress in my studies, to achieve my projects; you have given me comfort in adversity, caution in happy circumstances.

O my soul, what do you think that sweet and gentle thing is, which devout souls usually feel and taste when they remember their beloved, and which usually enamours them so sweetly that they seem to be alienated and out of themselves? They feel joyful and glad in their consciences and forget all their pain: their soul rejoices, their intellect becomes clear, their heart is illuminated, their will becomes joyful.

From De Arrha animae; quoted in “'La letteratura religiosa”', Fratelli Fabbri Editori, Milan, 1965, p. 58.

This sensible world […] is almost like a book written by the finger of God, that is, created by divine virtue, and individual creatures are like figures, not invented by human arbitrariness, but established by divine will to manifest the invisible wisdom of God. [...] It is therefore good to contemplate assiduously and admire divine works.

From Eruditio didascalica, lib. VII, De tribus diebus; quoted in Gino Ditadi, “'Introduction: The animal good to think about”', in Philosophers and animals, vol. 1, Isonomia editrice, Este, 1994, pp. 82-83. ISBN 88-85944-12-4.

When asked about the best conditions for learning, a scholar replied: “A humble spirit, commitment to research, a quiet life, silent inquiry, poverty, a foreign land; these circumstances make it easier to overcome the difficulties encountered during one's studies”. :*From Didascalicon.

The man who considers his homeland sweet is still a tender beginner; he for whom every territory is like his native soil is already strong; but perfect is he for whom the whole world is like a foreign land.
From Didascalicon.

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