Monday, February 11, 2008

A Medieval bon mot

"The first key to wisdom is, of course, assiduous and frequent questioning."

Peter Abelard (1079-1142)


I've tried to find the Latin original, but without success. It's from one of the Letters to Heloise. I took a Medieval Latin option in my last year at University, and it turned out to be much the most interesting part of my studies.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent. In my teens I had a quote of Abelard's by my desk. "By doubting we come to inquiry, and by inquiring we perceive the truth." Thank you for reminding me of it.

Froog said...

Why, OMG, you're quite the polymath! It's always nice to find a fellow lover of the classics.

When is your much-trailed trip to Thailand happening? I thought it was going to be over the Spring Festival - are you there now??