Always that damned discipline that you wear like chain mail ... You would have got on well with Bernard de Clairvaux and his gang of Knights Templar. If you'd been captured by Saladin, I'm sure you'd rather have had your throat cut than renounce your faith. But not from devotion, from pride.
The quote reflects a strong critique of the unwavering discipline upheld by certain individuals, likening it to wearing chain mail. It suggests that such rigidity is more about personal pride than genuine devotion. The comparison to historical figures like Bernard de Clairvaux and the Knights Templar highlights the notion of sacrificing oneself for beliefs, but questions the true motivations behind such sacrifices.
The implication is that valiant acts, like facing torture or death, may stem more from a sense of pride than an authentic commitment to faith. This duality explores the complexities of belief and the possibility that the drive to maintain one's principles can sometimes overshadow deeper spiritual connections.
