In the rush of our everyday lives, it feels good to find words that open the heart, give us direction, and lead us deep within. Hildegard of Bingen, a wise mystic, thinker, and healer from the Middle Ages, gives us just those kinds of words—clear, powerful, timeless. Here you'll find some of her strongest quotes and thoughts, translated and interpreted for today.
“Eternity is like a wheel that has neither beginning nor end.”
This image invites us to see time and life not as a straight line—but as an endless cycle. Everything flows, renews, transforms. For us, this means: We're part of something bigger. Our worries, our joy, our growth—all of it is part of the cycle of life. This thought brings calm and trust.
“Just as the sun is the light of the day, so is the soul the light of the waking body.”
Here you see Hildegard’s deep appreciation for the soul. It’s not the body or outer circumstances that make us alive—it's our soul that makes us shine from within. When we remember this, we start to shape our lives from the inside out: with awareness, joy, and inner light.
“You have heaven and earth within you.”
This quote reminds us: We carry greatness and vastness inside us—the divine, life, potential. We’re not just bodies and daily routines, but carriers of depth, longing, and expansiveness. When we pause and listen within, we feel this vastness—and can live our lives from a place of deeper connection.
“People can do wonderful things with body and soul.”
A gentle but clear invitation: Your strength comes from the interplay of body and soul. When both are in harmony, creativity, healing, and creation flow from it. You’re not a victim of your circumstances—you’re a creator. This quote encourages you to live your potential.
“The eyes are the windows of the soul.”
When you look someone in the eyes, you don’t just see a face—you see a soul. This image makes us aware: There’s more between us than just the surface. What matters is clarity, authenticity, and presence. In encounters, conversations, or just everyday life, we can learn to really see—with our eyes and our hearts.
“The soul loves the right balance in all things.”
This wisdom speaks of balance—not excess, not strictness, but the middle ground. In daily life, in what we eat, in how we think and act: The right balance brings calm, clarity, and inner stability. When you keep things balanced, you feel less drained, less rushed—and more at home with yourself.
“A person should first consider all their actions in their heart before carrying them out.”
Before we act—pause. Feel. Reflect. Ask your heart: Is what I’m about to do honest, loving, meaningful? This pause can keep us from acting too quickly or carelessly. It helps us make conscious decisions—in tune with ourselves and our inner truth.
“What sap is to the tree, the soul is to the body…”
An old image: Sap nourishes the tree, keeps it green and alive. In the same way, the soul nourishes our body—with vitality, warmth, inner connection. When the sap dries up, the tree withers. When the soul is neglected, a person withers inside. This image reminds us: Take good care of your soul.
“You can see the power of the soul in a person’s eyes when their eyes are clear, bright, and transparent.”
When you meet someone whose eyes shine, you know: Something alive lives there. It’s not just the light in the room, but the light of the soul. Clarity, honesty, peace—all of that is reflected. And it touches you.
“All creatures are infused with divine radiance.”
With these words, Hildegard connects all living things—people, animals, plants, the earth. Everything shines with a kind of divine light. This view opens our hearts to compassion, respect, and love—for ourselves, others, and nature. It reminds us how connected we are to everything that lives.
What these quotes can give us today
- Inner peace & trust – Thinking about cycles, eternity, and connection helps us find stability beyond stress and daily life.
- Self-worth & dignity – We’re more than our bodies or jobs. We carry light, depth, and creative power within us.
- Mindfulness & presence – Hildegard’s words stand for awareness: in how we treat ourselves, others, and the world.
- Balance & naturalness – Living with balance and moderation, instead of losing ourselves in excess.
- Connection with creation – So we can treat ourselves, others, and nature with more care.
Conclusion: Words that nourish heart and soul
Hildegard’s quotes are like seeds: Sometimes all it takes is a few words—and a bit of quiet—for something to grow inside us. Maybe a new way of seeing ourselves. Maybe more compassion. Maybe just a moment of clarity and peace.
