Quotes from Éliphas Lévi

Let parents be ever on their guard, for no one can kindle hell in his own blood, and devote his own issue to misfortune, without being himself burnt and made wretched.

Si Edipo en lugar de hacer morir a la esfinge la hubiera domado y enganchado a su carro para entrar a Tebas, hubiera sido rey sin incesto, sin calamidades y sin exilio.

On the brink of mystery, the spirit of man is seized with giddiness. Mystery is the abyss which ceaselessly attracts our unquiet curiosity by the terror of its depth. The greatest mystery of the infinite is the existence of Him for whom alone all is without mystery. Comprehending the infinite which is essentially incomprehensible, He is Himself that infinite and eternally unfathomable mystery; that is to say, that He is, in all seeming, that supreme absurdity in which Tertullian believed.

Makers of curious experiments in phenomena of extranatural vision are no better than the eaters of opium and hasheesh. They are children who injure themselves recklessly.

Human equilibrium requires two feet, the worlds gravitate by means of two forces, generation needs two sexes. Such is the meaning of the arcanum of Solomon, represented by the two pillars of the temple, Jakin and Bohas.

Men, tired of the light, take refuge in the shadow of corporeal substance: the dream of the void which God fills soon seems to them greater than God himself, and hell is created.

The hieroglyphic sign of the cross, a symbol of the name which contains all names, image of the four cardinal points of the squaring the circle (or circular movement of the square), embodies and represents all the philosophy and all the theology of the Qabalah.

Christianity has been wrongly accused of taking over all that was beautiful in anterior forms of worship; it is the last transfiguration of universal orthodoxy, and as such it has preserved whatsoever belonged to it, while rejecting dangerous practices and idle superstitions.

Everything is possible to him who wills only what is true! Rest in Nature, study, know, then dare; dare to will, dare to act and be silent!

There exists in nature a force which is immeasurably more powerful than steam, and by means of which a single man, who knows how to adapt and direct it, might upset and alter the face of the world.

All the power of the occult healer lies in his conscious will, and all his art consists in producing faith in the patient.

EVERY intention which does not assert itself by deeds is a vain intention, and the speech which expresses it is idle speech. It is action which proves life and establishes will

Weak people talk and do not act, strong people act and keep quiet.

A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard.

A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard.

When we love, we see the infinite in the finite. We find the Creator in the creation.

Judge not; speak hardly at all; love and act.

Nothing can resist the will of man when he knows what is true and wills what is good.

Order is never observed; it is disorder that attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive.

Magic is the divinity of man achieved in union with faith.

Father, forgive them,' said Jesus, 'for they know not what they do' -- People of good sense whoever you may be, I will add, do not listen to them, for they know not what they say.

There is nothing more to controlling demons than to do good and fear nothing.

Fear is nothing but idleness of the will.

Succeed in not fearing the lion, and the lion will fear you.