"We must beware of yielding to the pressure of a spirit of cowardly conformity which proclaims itself everybody's friend in the hope that everybody will obligingly return the compliment."
About Antonin Sertillanges
Antonin Sertillanges — Life and Legacy
Antonin Sertillanges was a prominent French philosopher and theologian, best known for his seminal work, 'The Intellectual Life.' His writings explore the deep relationship between knowledge, wisdom, and the spiritual journey of the individual. Sertillanges posits that the pursuit of knowledge is not merely an academic exercise but a profound vocation that demands dedication and moral integrity. He famously stated that 'the intellectual life is a vocation,' underscoring the idea that true intellectual engagement requires both discipline and a commitment to truth. Sertillanges's core philosophy revolves around the notion that wisdom transcends mere information; it is about understanding and applying knowledge in a meaningful way. He highlights the importance of solitude in fostering deep thought, arguing that it is within the quiet of one's mind that true insights emerge. His perspective challenges the contemporary view of knowledge as a commodity, instead framing it as a spiritual endeavor that enriches both the individual and society. Today, Sertillanges's insights remain relevant as they encourage a reflective approach to learning and intellectual engagement. His emphasis on the moral responsibilities of scholars and thinkers continues to resonate, inspiring individuals to pursue knowledge with integrity and purpose.
Quote collection
Antonin Sertillanges quotes
7 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Friendship is an obstetric art; it draws out our richest and deepest resources; it unfolds the wings of our dreams and hidden indeterminate thoughts; it serves as a check on our judgements, tries out our new ideas, keeps up our ardor, and inflames our enthusiasm."
"One finds one's way only by taking it."
"Very often, gleams of light come in a few minutes' sleeplessness, in a second perhaps; you must fix them. To entrust them to the relaxed brain is like writing on water; there is every chance that on the morrow there will be no slightest trace left of any happening."
"The reward of a work is to have produced it; the reward of effort is to have grown by it."
"It is a painful thing to say to oneself: by choosing one road I am turning my back on a thousand others. Everything is interesting; everything might be useful; everything attracts and charms a noble mind; but death is before us; mind and matter make their demands; willy-nilly we must submit and rest content as to things that time and wisdom deny us, with a glance of sympathy which is another act of our homage to the truth."
"Courage is sustained by calling up anew the vision of the goal."