Where Self-Knowledge Leads

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As long as I look at myself I see nothing but what grieves me. But once I look up and raise my eyes towards God and [God’s] pitying help, the glad sight of God soon makes up for the sad sight of myself…. Such is the experience and sequence of getting to know God as one's helper: first, one finds oneself in need of help, and second, one calls to the Lord and he listens…. In this way self-knowledge leads to the knowledge of God.


ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX Sermon 36.6 on the Song of Songs

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