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Saint Augustine Quotes - Page 21

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The measure of charity may be taken from the want of desires. As desires diminish in the soul, charity increases in it; and when it no longer feels any desire, then it possesses perfect charity.

The measure of charity may be taken from the want of desires. As desires diminish in the soul, charity increases in it; and when it no longer feels any desire, then it possesses perfect charity.

Saint Augustine
Taken, Perfect, Soul

What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor.

Saint Augustine
Art, Ships, Emperor
Saint Augustine of Hippo, Catholic Way Publishing (2015). “The City of God”, p.161, Catholic Way Publishing

In no passage of the holy canonical books there can be found either divine precept or permission to take away our own life, whether for the sake of entering on the enjoyment of immortality, or of shunning, or ridding ourselves of anything whatever. Nay, the law, rightly interpreted, even prohibits suicide, where it says, 'Thou shalt not kill.' This is proved especially by the omission of the words "thy neighbor," which are inserted when false witness is forbidden.

Saint Augustine
Suicide, Book, Suicidal
Saint Augustine of Hippo (2016). “Saint Augustine of Hippo Collection [50 Books]”, p.9337, Aeterna Press

Make friends with angels.

Saint Augustine
Inspiring, Angel

Fortitude is the disposition of soul which enables us to despise all inconveniences and the loss of things not in our power.

Saint Augustine
Loss, Soul, Fortitude

A Christian man is on his guard with respect to those who philosophize according to the elements of this world, not according to God, by Whom the world itself was made; for he is warned by the precept of the apostle and faithfully hears what has been said, 'Beware that no one deceive you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the elements of the world'

Saint Augustine
Christian, Philosophy, Men
Saint Augustine of Hippo, Catholic Way Publishing (2015). “The City of God”, p.344, Catholic Way Publishing

Longing desire prayeth always, though the tongue be silent. If thou art ever longing, thou art ever praying.

Saint Augustine
Art, Prayer, Desire

We who preach and write, do so in a manner different from which the Scriptures have been written. We write while we make progress.We learn something new every day. We speak as we still knock for understanding...If anyone criticizes me when I have said what is right, he does me an injustice. But I would be more angry with the one who praises me and takes what I have written for Gospel truth than I would be with the one who criticizes me unfairly.

Saint Augustine
Wisdom, Writing, Understanding

Though defensive violence will always be 'a sad necessity' in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men.

Saint Augustine
Eye, Gun, Men

When large numbers of people share their joy in common, the happiness of each is greater because each adds fuel to the other's flame.

Saint Augustine
Numbers, Flames, People

Peace is not sought in order to provoke war, but war is waged in order to attain peace.

Saint Augustine
War, Order, Provoking

That there should be some fire even after this life is not incredible, and it can be inquired into and either be discovered or left hidden whether some of the faithful may be saved, some more slowly and some more quickly in the greater or lesser degree in which they loved the good things that perish, through a certain purgatorial fire.

Saint Augustine
Fire, Faithful, May

Such is the strength of the burden of habit. Here I have the power to be but do not wish it. There I wish to be but lacks the power. On both grounds, I'm in misery.

Saint Augustine
Wish, Misery, Habit

The soul, which is spirit, can not dwell in dust; it is carried along to dwell in the blood.

Saint Augustine
Dust, Blood, House
"Decretum". Book by Gratian, IX. 32. 2, c. 12 AD.

Temperance is love surrendering itself wholly to Him who is its object; courage is love bearing all things gladly for the sake of Him who is its object; justice is love serving only Him who is its object, and therefore rightly ruling; prudence is love making wise distinction between what hinders and what helps itself.

Saint Augustine
Wise, Love Is, Justice

In what is necessary, unity; in what is not necessary, liberty and in all things charity.

Saint Augustine
Attitude, Unity, Liberty

Two loves have made two different cities: self-love hath made a terrestrial city, which rises in contempt of God; and Divine Love hath made a celestial one, which rises in contempt of self. The former glories in itself - the latter in God.

Saint Augustine
Self, Cities, Two

Every day my conscience makes confession relying on the hope of Your mercy as more to be trusted than its own innocence.

Saint Augustine
Innocence, Mercy, Confession
Saint Augustine (1998). “The Confessions”, p.181, OUP Oxford

Wonderful is the depth of thy words, whose surface is before us, gently leading on the little ones: and yet a wonderful deepness, O my God, a wonderful deepness. It is awe to look into it; even an awfulness of honour, and a trembling of love.

Saint Augustine
Depth, Looks, Littles

The entire most beautiful order of things that are very good, when their measures have been accomplished, is to pass away.

Saint Augustine
Beauty, Beautiful, Order

In our own times, you see, an emperor came to the city of Rome, where there's the temple of an emperor, where there's a fisherman's tomb. And so that pious and Christian emperor, wishing to beg for health, for salvation from the Lord, did not proceed to the temple of a proud emperor, but to the tomb of a fisherman, where he could imitate that fisherman in humility, so that he, being thus approached, might then obtain something from the Lord, which a haughty emperor would be quite unable to earn.

Saint Augustine
Christian, Humility, Cities
Saint Augustine of Hippo (2003). “Sermons III/11”, p.286

Let us, on both sides, lay aside all arrogance. Let us not, on either side, claim that we have already discovered the truth. Let us seek it together as something which is known to neither of us. For then only may we seek it, lovingly and tranquilly, if there be no bold presumption that it is already discovered and possessed.

Saint Augustine
Arrogance, Together, May

What can be more excellent than prayer; what is more profitable to our life; what sweeter to our souls; what more sublime, in the course of our whole life, than the practice of prayer!

Saint Augustine
Prayer, Practice, Soul

Divine Scripture is wont to frame, as it were, allurements for children from the things which are found in the creature; whereby, according to their measure, and as it were by steps, the affections of the weak may be moved to seek those things that are above, and to leave those things that are below. But the same Scripture rarely employs those things which are spoken properly of God, and are not found in any creature; as, for instance, that which was said to Moses, I am that I am; and, I Am has sent me to you."

Saint Augustine
Children, May, Scripture
Source: www.patheos.com

God bids you not to commit lechery, that is, not to have sex with any woman except your wife. You ask of her that she should not have sex with anyone except you -- yet you are not willing to observe the same restraint in return.

Saint Augustine
Sex, Wife, Return

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