Liber Secundus, Caput III. Considerationis quatuor puncta designat.
The Four Fields of Consideration
Consideration must begin with oneself, for all outward wisdom is ruin without self-knowledge.
Now, regarding the fruit of consideration, I think there are four things for you to consider: those that are under you, those that are around you, and those that are above you. Let your consideration begin with yourself, lest you be extended in vain to other things while neglecting yourself. What good is it to you if you gain the whole world but lose yourself? Even if you are wise, you lack wisdom if you are not true to yourself. How much indeed? As I have felt, the whole thing. Granted that you know all the mysteries, know the broadness of the earth, the height of heaven, and the depth of the sea; if you do not know yourself, you will be like one building without a foundation, making a ruin, not a structure. Whatever you build outside of yourself will be like a heap of dust, exposed to the winds.
Returning to the Inner Well
True wisdom is found by turning inward, resting in oneself, and keeping one's reflection from wandering beyond its proper bounds.
So, a person who isn't wise for their own sake isn't truly wise. The one who is wise for their own sake will be truly wise and will drink first from the spring of their own well. Let your reflection begin from yourself, and not only begin there, but come to rest in yourself. Wherever your attention wanders, call it back to yourself, and it will return with fruit for your salvation. You must be first for yourself, and you must be last. Take your example from the highest Father of all: he both sends forth his Word and holds it within. Your word is your reflection: if it goes out, don't let it withdraw from you. Let it advance in such a way that it does not go beyond its bounds; let it go out in such a way that it does not abandon you.
Salvation as the Sole Measure
Nothing should enter consideration that does not serve one's own salvation.
In gaining your salvation, no one is closer to you than your own mother. You should think nothing against your own salvation. I said that too weakly — 'against'? No, I should have said 'except.' Whatever presents itself to your consideration — if it does not in any way pertain to your own salvation — must be rejected.
Read the original Latin
Jam quod ad considerationis attinet fructum, quatuor, ut occurrunt, tibi consideranda reor: te, quae sub te, quae circa te, quae supra te sunt. A te tua consideratio inchoet, ne frustra extendaris in alia, te neglecto. Quid tibi prodest si universum mundum lucreris, te unum perdens? Etsi sapiens sis, deest tibi ad sapientiam, si tibi non fueris. Quantum vero? Ut quidem senserim ego, totum. Noveris licet omnia mysteria, noveris lata terrae, alta coeli, profunda maris; si te nescieris, eris similis aedificanti sine fundamento, ruinam, non structuram faciens. Quidquid exstruxeris extra te, erit instar congesti pulveris, ventis obnoxium.
Non ergo sapiens, qui sibi non est. Sapiens sibi sapiens erit: et bibet de fonte putei sui primus ipse. A te proinde incipiat tua consideratio; non solum autem, sed et in te finiatur. Quocunque evagetur, ad te revocaveris eam cum salutis fructu. Tu primus tibi, tu ultimus. Sume exemplum de summo omnium Patre, Verbum suum et emittente, et retinente. Verbum tuum, consideratio tua: quae si procedit, non recedat. Sic progrediatur, ut non egrediatur; sic exeat, ut non deserat.
In acquisitione salutis nemo tibi germanior unico matris tuae. Contra salutem propriam cogites nihil. Minus dixi, Contra: Praeter, dixisse debueram. Quidquid se considerationi offerat, quod non quoquo modo ad tuam ipsius salutem pertineat, respuendum.
De consideratione (On Consideration) companion
Make consideration a daily appointment
Bernard told Eugene to set aside time every day. Chosen Portion holds that time for you, free.
Bernard's core prescription — a fixed daily time reserved for examining the soul — is exactly the habit Chosen Portion installs with its daily devotional portion.
- One 10-minute daily portion for self-examination and prayer
- Reflection prompts drawn from historic texts, not improvised journaling
- A visible streak that protects the daily interval Bernard insisted on