When thou lookest towards creatures, the sight of the Creator is withdrawn from thee.
Learn for the Creator's sake, to overcome thyself in all things; and then thou shalt be able to attain to the knowledge of God.
How little soever it be, if a thing be inordinately loved and regarded, it keeps us back from the Sovereign Good, and corrupts the soul.
Chap. XLIII.
Against vain and worldly learning.
1. Son, be not moved with the fine and quaint sayings of men: For the kingdom of God consists not in talk, but in virtue.
Attend to my words, which inflame the heart, and enlighten the mind: which excite to compunction, and afford manifold consolations.
Never read any thing that thou may appear more learned or more wise.
Study therefore to mortify thy vices, for this will avail thee more than the knowledge of many hard questions.
2. When thou shalt have read, and shalt know many things, thou must always return to one beginning.