Mining the mind’s hidden resources: the need to recall the inward truth despite outward distraction

Whoever seeks out the truth in the depths of mind
and desires not be fooled by errant by-ways,
must turn back to oneself the light of the inward vision,
bending and forcing the mind’s far-reaching movements
into a circular path, and teach the mind to grasp
deep within its own treasury whatever
it is striving for outside itself.
What the dark cloud of error covered over just now
will shine forth more brightly than Apollo himself.
For earthly cares, which burden the mind with heavy forgetfulness,
have not removed all light.
Certainly some seed of truth clings within,
which is roused awake by the stirring air of knowledge.
For why, when asked a question, do you correctly reach an answer,
out of your own resources, unless the tinder lived
deep within your heart. If the muse of Plato sounded the truth,1
what each one learns, each, though unmindful, remembers.

Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, 3.11 meter

1. See Plato, Meno 81-86 and Phaedo, 72-76.↩

For other posts on inwardness, see here