I desire rather to know compunction than its definition. If thou knewest all the sayings of all the philosophers, what should that avail thee without charity and grace? All other things in the world, save only to love God and serve him, are vanity of vanities and all vanity. And it is vanity also to desire honour and for a man to lift himself on high. And it is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and to desire the thing for which man must afterward grievously be punished. And it is vanity to desire a long life and to take no care to live a good life. And it is vanity for a man to take heed only to this present life and not to see before those things that are to come. Study therefore to withdraw thy heart from love of things visible and turn thee to things invisible. For they that follow their senses stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. OF A HUMBLE OPINION OF OURSELVES Every man naturally desireth knowledge; but knowledge without love and fear of God, what availeth it? Certainly the meek plow-man that serveth God is much better than the proud philosopher that, taking no heed of his own living, studies the course of the stars. He that knoweth himself well is lowly in his own sight and hath no delight in man's praises. If I knew all things that are in the world and had not charity, what should that help me before God who shall judge me according to my deeds? Unwise is he that more attendeth to other things than to the health of his soul. Many words fill not the soul; but a good life refresheth the mind and a pure conscience giveth a great confidence in God. The more thou canst do and the better that thou canst do, the more grievously thou shalt be judged unless thou live holily. Think not highly of thyself but rather acknowledge thine ignorance. If thou wilt learn and know anything profitably, love to be unknown and to be accounted as of little worth. OF THE TEACHING OF TRUTH Blissful is he whom truth itself teacheth, not by figures or voices, but as it is. What availeth great searching of dark and hidden things for the which we shall not be blamed in the judgment though we know them not? He to whom the Word Everlasting speaketh is delivered from a multitude of opinions. Of one Word came all things, and all things speak one word; that is the Beginning that speaketh to us. No man without the Word understandeth or judgeth righteously. He to whom all things are one and who draweth all things to one and seeth all things in one may be quiet in heart and peaceably abide in God. O God of truth, make me one with thee in everlasting love! Ofttimes it wearieth me to hear and read many things; in thee Lord is all that I wish and can desire. Let all teachers hold their peace and all manner of creatures keep their silence in thy sight: Speak thou alone to me!