Quotes from Bernard of Clairvaux

God has aroused the spirit of kings and princes to root up from the earth the enemies of the Christian name. Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of Christ.

The rivers of Grace cannot flow uphill, up the steep cliff of the proud man's heart.

There are three distinct comings of the Lord of which I know: His coming to men, His coming into men, and His coming against men.

A truly obedient man does not discriminate between one thing and another, since his only aim is to execute faithfully whatever may be assigned to him.

Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a sceptre but a hoe.

We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.

He won me over entirely by giving Himself entirely to me.

A pretext is never lacking to him who would break with a friend.