Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Ancrene Wisse, aka Ancrene Riwle NULL
Translated as "Guide for Anchoresses " is anonymous monastic rules written for three sisters who chose to enter the contemplative life
"You ought to say fewer fixed prayers so that you may do more reading. Reading is good prayer. Reading teaches us how to pray, and what to pray for, and then prayer achieves it. In the course of reading, when the heart is pleased, there arises a spirit of devotion which is worth many prayers."
"From little grows much."
"Hope keeps the heart in health, whatever the flesh may suffer. "Without hope," as they say, "the heart would break"."
"Read some of this book at your leisure every day; and I hope that if you read it often it will prove very profitable to you; otherwise I shall have spent my long hours very ill. I would rather, God be my witness, set out on foot for Rome than begin the work over again!"
"What is a word but wind?"