pp.101-102, Fr. Menou-Segrais to the young Fr. Donissan
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"We are at that one of life's hours (it strikes for every man) when truth imposes itself, by itself, with irresistible obviousness, when each of us has only to stretch forth his arms to reach at a single bound the surface of shadows, even the sunlight of God. Then is human prudence but a snare and a delusion. Sanctity!' cried out the old priest in a deep voice; 'by saying this word in your presence and for you alone, I know the hurt I inflict upon you! You are not unaware of what sanctity is: a vocation, a calling. Up to the place where God awaits you you will have to climb—climb, or be lost. Expect no human help."

— Georges Bernanos

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets ""We are at that one of life's hours (it strikes for every man) when truth imposes itself, by itself, with irresistible obviousness, when each of us has only to stretch forth his arms to reach at a single bound the surface of shadows, even the sunlight of God. Then is human prudence but a snare and a delusion. Sanctity!' cried out the old priest in a deep voice; 'by saying this word in your presence and for you alone, I know the hurt I inflict upon you! You are not unaware of what sanctity is: a vocation, a calling. Up to the place where God awaits you you will have to climb—climb, or be lost. Expect no human help."" in the context of "pp.101-102, Fr. Menou-Segrais to the young Fr. Donissan" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Georges Bernanos" (Quotes, Sous le soleil de Satan (Under the Sun of Satan), 1926: Under the Sun of Satan, translated by Harry Lorin Binsse. Tacoma WE: Cluny Media, 2017) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Georges Bernanos

About Georges Bernanos

Georges Bernanos (20 February 1888 – 5 July 1948) was a French writer. A Roman Catholic and royalist, his novel The Diary of a Country Priest was filmed by Robert Bresson.