Saint Augustine Quotes
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Passion is the evil in adultery. If a man has no opportunity of living with another man's wife, but if it is obvious for some reason that he would like to do so, and would do so if he could, he is no less guilty than if he was caught in the act.
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I found thee not, O Lord, without, because I erred in seeking thee without that wert within.
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The spiritual virtue of a sacrament is like light; although it passes among the impure, it is not polluted.
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Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.
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Often the contempt of vainglory becomes a source of even more vainglory, for it is not being scorned when the contempt is something one is proud of.
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If I am given a formula, and I am ignorant of its meaning, it cannot teach me anything, but if I already know it what does the formula teach me?
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Education is the food of youth, the delight of old age, the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity, and the provocation to grace in the soul.
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Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
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To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
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If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend.
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The soul, which is spirit, can not dwell in dust; it is carried along to dwell in the blood.
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The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences.
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The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.
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It seems to me that an unjust law is no law at all.
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There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.
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Give her two red roses, each with a note. The first note says For the woman I love and the second, For my best friend.
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The desire is thy prayers; and if thy desire is without ceasing, thy prayer will also be without ceasing. The continuance of your longing is the continuance of your prayer.
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Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty.
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We make a ladder for ourselves of our vices, if we trample those same vices underfoot.
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God does not give heed to the ambitiousness of our prayers, because he is always ready to give to us his light, not a visible light but an intellectual and spiritual one; but we are not always ready to receive it when we turn aside and down to other things out of a desire for temporal things.
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A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently.
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Repentant tears wash out the stain of guilt.
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The purpose of all wars, is peace.
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Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.