I have written the little work that follows . . . in the role of one who strives to raise his mind to the contemplation of God and one who seeks to understand what he believes.

For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.

Therefore Lord, not only are you that than which a greater cannot be thought but you are also something greater than can be thought.

God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the more largely.

God hath promised pardon to him that repenteth, but he hath not promised repentance to him that sinneth.

And indeed we believe you [God] to be something than which a greater cannot be conceived.

But a problem occurs about nothing. For that from which something is made is a cause of the thing made from it; and, necessarily,every cause contributes some assistance to the effect's existence.