12th century

Explore 14 quotes from the 12th century

We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.

Bernard of Chartres

The phrase "standing on the shoulders of giants" is best known from a 1675 letter from Isaac Newton.

More information about this quote

Topic

Scientific progress Progress

Speaker

Bernard of Chartres

Author

John of Salisbury

Language

Latin

Time

1159 1150s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bernard of Chartres. Quoted in The Metalogicon of John of Salisbury, written by John of Salisbury. c. 1159, bk. 3.

No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.

Yuanwu Keqin

More information about this quote

Topic

Snowflakes Nature Teleology

Author

Yuanwu Keqin

Source

The Blue Cliff Record

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Zen koan

Language

Chinese

Time

1125 1120s 12th century

Era

Song Dynasty

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Keqin, Yuanwu. 碧巖錄 [The Blue Cliff Record]. c. 1125.

I have freed my soul.

Bernard of Clairvaux

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaking up Telling the truth

Author

Bernard of Clairvaux

Source

Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux

Medium

Letter

Language

Latin

Time

1152 1150s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Bernard of Clairvaux. "Letter CVI: To Magister Henry Murdach." Epistles. n.d., no. CCCLXXI.

Current Citation

Bernard of Clairvaux. "Letter CVI: To Magister Henry Murdach." The Letters of Bernard Clairvaux, translated by Bruno Scott James. Liturgical Press, 2003.

For we do not easily expect evil of those whom we love most.

Peter Abelard

More information about this quote

Topic

Hurting others Loved ones Relationships

Author

Peter Abelard

Source

Historia Calamitatum

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

Latin

Time

1132 1130s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Abelard, Pierre. Historia Calamitatum [The History of My Calamities]. c. 1132.

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

More information about this quote

Topic

Spending time in nature Nature

Author

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Source

Letters of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Medium

Letter

Language

Latin

Time

1147 1140s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Clairvaux, St. Bernard. Letter to Magister Henry Murdach. c. 1150.

Current Citation

Clairvaux, St. Bernard. "Letter CVI." Life and Works of Saint Bernard. Aeterna Press, 2015.

Astrology is a disease, not a science.

Maimonides

More information about this quote

Topic

Astrology

Author

Maimonides

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Time

1195 1190s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Maimonides. Letter to Marseille. c. 1195.

In the realm of Nature there is nothing purposeless, trivial, or unnecessary.

Maimonides

Guide for the Perplexed

More information about this quote

Topic

Efficiency of nature Elegance of nature Nature

Author

Maimonides

Source

Guide for the Perplexed

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Time

1190 1190s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Maimonides. דלאלת אלחאירין [The Guide of the Perplexed]. c. 1190.

Current Citation

Maimonides. The Guide of the Perplexed, translated by Chaim Rabin. Hackett Publishing Company, 1995.

God knows I never sought anything in you except yourself; I wanted simply you, nothing of yours.

Héloïse

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More information about this quote

Topic

Ulterior motives Purity of love Love

Author

Héloïse

Source

Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Medium

Letter

Language

Latin

Time

1132 1130s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Héloïse. Letter to Abelard. c. 1150.

Current Citation

Héloïse. "Letter 2: Heloise to Abelard." The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, edited and translated by Betty Radice. Penguin Books, 2004.

O what their joy and glory must be,
Those endless sabbaths the blessed ones see!

Peter Abelard

More information about this quote

Topic

Heaven

Author

Peter Abelard

Source

O Quanta, Qualia Sunt Illa Sabbata

Medium

Hymn Song

Language

Latin

Time

1142 1140s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Abelard, Pierre. O What Their Joy and Their Glory Must Be. c. 1800.

The foundation of our faith is the belief that God created the Universe from nothing; that time did not exist previously, but was created.

Maimonides

Guide for the Perplexed

More information about this quote

Topic

Judaism Creation of the universe Time

Author

Maimonides

Source

Guide for the Perplexed

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Time

1190 1190s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Maimonides. דלאלת אלחאירין [The Guide of the Perplexed]. c. 1190.

Current Citation

Maimonides. The Guide of the Perplexed, translated by Chaim Rabin. Hackett Publishing Company, 1995.

My heart was not in me but with you, and now, even more, if it is not with you it is nowhere.

Héloïse

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More information about this quote

Topic

Being in love Love

Author

Héloïse

Source

Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Profession of love

Language

Latin

Time

1132 1130s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Héloïse. Letter to Abelard. c. 1150.

Current Citation

Héloïse. "Letter 2: Heloise to Abelard." The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, edited and translated by Betty Radice. Penguin Books, 2004.

When I find the road narrow, and can see no other way of teaching a well established truth except by pleasing one intelligent man and displeasing then thousand fools-I prefer to address myself to the man.

Maimonides

The Guide for the Perplexed

More information about this quote

Topic

Intellectual integrity

Author

Maimonides

Source

The Guide for the Perplexed

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Time

1190 1190s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Maimonides. דלאלת אלחאירין [The Guide of the Perplexed]. c. 1190.

Current Citation

Maimonides. The Guide of the Perplexed, translated by Chaim Rabin. Hackett Publishing Company, 1995.

It is the Russians' joy to drink; we cannot do without it.

Vladimir the Great

More information about this quote

Topic

Russia Drinking alcohol

Speaker

Vladimir the Great

Language

Old East Slavic

Time

1113 1110s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Vladimir the Great. Quoted in The Primary Chronicle, written by Nestor. c. 1113, annal for the year 987.

Current Citation

Vladimir the Great. Quoted in The Russian Primary Chronicle: Laurentian Text, written by Nestor, translated by Samuel Hazzard Cross and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetzor. Medieval Academy of America, 2012, annal for the year 987.

The basic tenets of our Torah and its fundamental principles are thirteen in number: The first fundamental principle is the existence of the Creator. There is a being who exists in the most perfect mode of existence, and he is the cause of he existence of all other beings.

Maimonides

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of God God

Author

Maimonides

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Judeo-Arabic

Time

1168 1160s 12th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Maimonides. Commentary on the Mishnah Torah. c. 1168.

Current Citation

Maimonides. "Commentary on Mishnah 1." The Essential Maimonides: Translations of the Rambam, translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel. Jason Aronson, Inc., 1996.