The Cloud of Unknowing

This article is about the medieval book. For other uses, see The Cloud of Unknowing (disambiguation).

The Cloud of Unknowing
The first page of Cloud of Unknowing in the 15th century manuscript Harley MS 2373, beginning with the Decorated initial "I"
AuthorAnonymous
Original titleThe Cloude of Unknowyng
LanguageMiddle English
SubjectLove of God, Christian mysticism
GenreChristian mysticism
Publication date
Late 14th century
Publication placeEngland
Followed byThe Book of Privy Counseling 

The Cloud of Unknowing (Middle English: The Cloude of Unknowyng) is an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century.

The text is written as guide from a teacher to a student, with the message that God cannot be understood via reason or intellect but only through love: “By love may He be gotten and holden, but never through thought.” To achieve this goal, the text recommends cultivation of two mental states: “The cloud of forgetting” (temporarily setting aside one’s knowledge and intellect), and “the cloud of unknowing” (God dwells beyond human understanding and can be comprehended only through love).

The text is seen by some modern sources as a guide on contemplative prayer, though this interpretation is disputed.


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