I believe in order that I may understand.
Interpretation
Understanding comes from a belief that drives the pursuit of knowledge.
This quote by Anselm of Canterbury reflects the idea that belief is a foundational aspect of seeking understanding. It suggests that one must first adopt a mindset of faith or trust in the process of inquiry, which then opens the door to deeper insights and comprehension of the world around us.
In practice
In a discussion about the importance of faith in personal growth.
A Prayer of Anselm My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you. And if I may not do so fully in this life let me go steadily on to the day when I come to that fullness . . . Let me receive That which you promised through your truth, that my joy may be full.
For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.
Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.
Remove grace, and you have nothing whereby to be saved. Remove free will and you have nothing that could be saved.
A single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death.
I have written the little work that follows . . . in the role of one who strives to raise his mind to the contemplation of God and one who seeks to understand what he believes.
Faith draws the poison from every grief, takes the sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain, and only faith can do it.
Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.
Learn to say no; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.
Problems can only be solved by the people who have them. You have to try and coax them and love them into seeing ways in which they can help themselves.
There's something fascinating about seeing something you don't like at first but directly know you will loveβin time. People are that way, all through life. You come against a personality, and it questions yours. You shy away but know there are gratifying secrets there, and the half-open door is often more exciting than the wide.
As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can.
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