Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin: Born in Amboise, France, in 1743, Saint-Martin was a visionary philosopher, who was one of the leading exponents of illuminism, an 18th century philosophical movement that attempted to refute the rationalistic philosophies prevalent in that period.
After practising law for 6 months at Tours, he joined the army in 1765. Stationed at Bordeaux, he came under the influence of the Christian mystic, Martinez Pasqually. He left the army in 1771 and began to promote mysticism. After visiting England and Italy, from 1788, he was much influenced by the writings of Jacob Boehme. He later came under the influence of the Swedish philosopher, Emanuel Swedenborg. Saint-Martin died in 1803. His writings include "The Spirit of Things", and "The Ministry of Man and Spirit".
He signed his works
'Le Philosophe Inconnu' - 'The Unknown Philosopher'.
Some Aphorisms and Maxims of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin:
"When we speak of the Divine Sensibility, men tell us that God's feelings are not as ours. But, this granted, it is for us to strive that we may feel like Him, without which we can in no wise become familiar with His operations, and still less be numbered among His servants. In truth, this Divine Sensibility is so absolutely the one thing needful, that apart therefrom, we are corpses, less even than stones, because stones abide in their law, and are that which they should be, whereas the soul of man was never designed to be a dead thing."
"It is in vain that we pretend to arrive at the fullness of truth by reasoning. By this way we reach only rational truth; still it is infinitely precious, and full of resources against the assaults of false philosophy. The natural lights of every man of aspiration have indeed no other font, and it is therefore of almost universal use; but it cannot impart that sentiment and tact of active and radical truth from which our nature should derive its life and being. This kind of truth is given of itself alone. Let us make ourselves simple and childlike, and our faithful guide will cause us to feel its sweetness. If we profit by these first graces, we shall taste very soon those of the pure spirit, afterwards those of the Holy Spirit, then those of the Supreme Sanctity, and, lastly, in the interior man we shall behold the all."
"Science separates man from his fellows by creating distinctions with which prudence often forbids him to dispense. Love, on the contrary, impels men to communicate, and would establish everywhere the reign of that unity which is the principle from which it derives. The Repairer spoke nothing of the sciences, for he came not to divide men; he spoke only of love and the virtues, for he wished them to walk in unison. But science does not divide merely, it tends also to pride; love, on the other hand, does more than join together, it keeps man in humility. Hence St. Paul said that knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies."
"The locality of the soul has been a subject of frequent dispute; by some it has been placed in the head, by others in the heart, by yet others in the solar plexus. Were the soul an organic and material particle, there would be reason in assigning a place for it, as it would be possible that it should occupy one. But if it be a metaphysical entity, how can it be localized physically? Its faculties alone would seem to possess a determined seat - the head for the functions of thought, meditation, judgment, and the heart for affections and sentiments of every kind. As for the soul itself, since its nature transcends both time and space, its correspondences and abode in space escape calculation."
"God is a fixed paradise, man should be a paradise in motion."
"All men who are instructed in fundamental truths speak the same language, for they are inhabitants of the same country."
"The more we advance in virtue the less we perceive the defects of others, as a man on the summit of a mountain, with a vast prospect about him, beholds not the deformities of those who may dwell on the plain below. His very elevation should give him a lively and tender interest in those who, although beneath him, are, he knows, of his own nature. What then must be the love of God for men!"
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