Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Jacob Bohme, or Jacob Behmen or Jakob Böhme
German Teutonic Philosopher, Christian Mystic, Father of German Philosophy
"Spiritual knowledge cannot be communicated from one intellect to another, but must be sought for in the spirit of God."
"For according to the outward man, we are in this world, and according to the inward man, we are in the inward world.... Since then we are generated out of both worlds, we speak in two languages, and we must be understood also by two languages"
"When thou standest still from thinking and willing of self, the eternal hearing, seeing, and speaking will be revealed to thee, and so God heareth and seeth through thee. Thine own hearing, willing, and seeing hindereth thee, that thou dost not see nor hear God."
"You are at enmity with yourself."
"In 'Yes' and 'No' all things consist"
"A man’s heaven exists for him not outside of himself. If heaven is in him, then will he be in heaven, wherever he may be. Heaven is throughout the whole world and outside of it; it is nothing but a manifestation of the Eternal One."
"In the image of God there is no coercion, but rather free, eager service of love, just as a limb of the body or a branch of the tree gladly serves the other members. "
"The kingdom of God cometh not with outward observation, neither shall they say lo, here, or lo, there it is; for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. "
"The superficial reasoner believes that there exists no faculty of seeing except by the exterior eye, and that if that sight has departed there will be an end of seeing. It is very unfortunate if the soul can only see through the external mirror of the eye. What will such a soul see if that mirror is broken? "
"Love, being the highest principle, is the virtue of all virtues, from when they flow forth. Love, being the greatest majesty, is the power of all powers, from whence they severally operate. "
"Where the way is hardest, there go thou; and what the world casteth away, that take thou up. What the world doth, that do thou not; but in all things walk thou contrary to the world. So thou comest the nearest way to that which thou art seeking."