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.
Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.
We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.
Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.
There are but few proverbial sayings that are not true, for they are all drawn from experience itself, which is the mother of all sciences.
Try viewing everyone who comes into your life as a teacher.
Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.