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.
A realized one sends out waves of spiritual influence in his aura, which draw many people towards him. Yet he may sit in a cave and maintain complete silence.
Sometimes angels rush in where fools fear to tread.
I'm trying to learn the lessons of the past, but not to make speeches about the past.
Counseling has to do with intuition, with work on oneself, with the quietness of one's mind and the openness of one's heart.
When new turns of behavior cease to appear in the life of the individual, its behavior ceases to be intelligent.
Bitterness: anger that forgot where it came from.
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