| Author Quoted | R.L. Poole |
| Title Quoted | Masters of the Schools at Paris and Chartres in John of Salisbury's Time |
| Date (Year/Month/Day) | 1962/10/10 |
| Imprint | [S.l.] : [s.n.]. 1920 |
| Quotation | After dinner-reading about Abelard, in R. L. Poole. I have an enormous amount of sympathy and pity for Abelard. And a profound admiration for the human greatness of Heloise (not brought out in Poole, but evident in Gilson). Abelard suffered far more than Bernard ever did (if one can estimate such things!). If suffering makes the greater saints then, perhaps"¦oh, what have I nearly said! But it is true, dear diary. After all these years I have a greater liking for Abelard than for St. Bernard. I understand him better, am closer to him. His weaknesses were great, his character had terrible flaws, he was vain and impressive. He did not control his vanity as Bernard did. It ruined him. |
| Quotation Source | Turning Toward the World: The Pivotal Years. The Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 4, 1960-1963.; Edited by Victor A. Kramer. / San Francisco : Harper Collins. 1996, p. 256 |
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| Notes | |
| Link to Merton's Copy |
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