"The heart of man is a labyrinth, whose windings are very difficult to be discovered. The praises you give me are the more dangerous, in regard that I love the person who gives them. The more I desire to please you, the readier am I to believe all the merit you attribute to me. Ah, think rather how to support my weaknesses by wholesome remonstrances! Be rather fearful than confident of my salvation: say our virtue is founded upon weakness, and that those only will be crowned who have fought with the greatest difficulties: but I seek not for that crown which is the reward of victory, I am content to avoid only the danger. It is easier to keep off than to win a battle. There are several degrees in glory, and I am not ambitious of the highest; those I leave to souls of great courage, who have been often victorious. I seek not to conquer, out of fear lest I should be overcome. Happy enough, if I can escape shipwreck, and at last gain the port. Heaven commands me to renounce that fatal passion which unites me to you; but oh! my heart will never be able to consent to it. Adieu."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Letter IV : Heloise to Abelard
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lo%C3%AFse_(abbess)
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Héloïse (abbess)
6 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Héloïse (abbess) →
Related Quotes
"Domino suo, imo Patri; Conjugi suo, imo Fratri; Ancilla sua, imo Filia; ipsius Uxor, imo Soror; Abaelardo Heloisa, &c…"
"A consolatory letter of yours to a friend happened some days since to fall into my hands. My knowledge of the charact…"
"I own, to my confusion, I fear more the offending of man than the provoking of God, and study less to please him than…"
"What occasion had you to praise me? praise is often hurtful to those on whom it is bestowed. A secret vanity springs …"
"Almost a thousand years ago, a teacher fell in love with his student. Almost a thousand years ago, they began a torri…"
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. [...] And he [Abraham]…"
"Blessed be Abram of God Most High, / Possessor of heaven and earth; / And blessed be God Most High, / Who has deliver…"
"The Lord has sworn | And will not relent, | “You are a priest forever | According to the order of Melchizedek.”"
"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the…"
"As He also says in another place: / “You are a priest forever /According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the da…"