Liber Secundus, Caput XII. Neque in prosperis animum nimis laxandum, neque in adversis deficiendum.
The Upright Heart in Suffering
Bernard urges self-examination in affliction and praises the upright heart that remains compassionate toward others even amid personal pain.
In times of trouble too, I don't want you to hide from me what you've discovered about yourself. If you've found yourself steady in your own sufferings, yet sympathetic toward the sufferings of others, rejoice. This is the mark of an upright heart: set against the most twisted kind, even if you're caught showing some impatience in your own troubles, you're at least never perceived as lacking compassion in the troubles of others.
The Hidden Danger of Prosperity
Bernard warns that prosperity is a subtler threat than adversity, since ease and success tend to melt discipline and wisdom away.
What about times of prosperity? Isn't there something there to disturb your careful reflection? There certainly is, if you pay close attention to how rare it's always been to find anyone who didn't relax their guard and discipline in prosperity, even just a little. When has prosperity not melted the undisciplined, like fire melts wax, like the sun's rays melt snow or ice? David was wise, and Solomon was wiser still; but when favorable circumstances flattered them too much, the one fell partly into folly, the other entirely.
Wisdom Tested by Fortune
Bernard concludes that adversity preserves wisdom more reliably than prosperity, and he honors the rare soul who remains modest and disciplined when life smiles.
Anyone great who runs into adversity doesn't fall away, or at least not much, from wisdom; and no less, for whom present happiness has smiled but hasn't mocked. Although you'll more easily find those who kept their wisdom when fortune went against them than those who didn't lose it when fortune was kind. That person is to be preferred and is great, in whom at least among prosperous things no unseemly laughter, no insolent talk, no immoderate concern for clothing or body has crept in.
Read the original Latin
In tribulationibus quoque qualem te inveneris nolo dissimules. Si constantem in tuis, condolentem in alienis gaude. Recti cordis hoc; e regione perversissimi, si cum in propriis deprehendaris fortasse impatiens, minime tamen in alienis compatiens sentiaris. Quid in prosperis? nihilne est quod considerationem sollicitet? Est utique si diligenter attendas, quam rarus semper exstiterit, qui non vel modice in prosperitate animum relaxaverit a sui custodia et disciplina. Quando haec incautis non fuit ad disciplinam, quod ignis ad ceram, quod solis radius ad nivem vel glaciem? Sapiens David, sapientior Salomon fuit: sed blandientibus nimis secundis rebus alter ex parte, alter ex toto desipuit.
Magnus qui incidens in adversa, non excidit vel parum a sapientia: nec minor cui praesens felicitas si arrisit, non irrisit. Quanquam facilius inveneris qui sapientiam retinuerunt, contraria sibi fortuna, quam qui propitia non perdiderunt. Praeferendus ille et magnus est, cui inter prospera saltem risus indecentior, aut sermo insolentior, aut immoderatior cura vestis vel corporis non irrepsit.
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