Saint Augustine Quotes
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I had a clear idea about what time is till I was asked to explain it and ceased to understand it altogether as soon as I began explaining it.
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Though there are very many nations all over the earth, ...there are no more than two kinds of human society, which we may justly call two cities, ...one consisting of those who live according to man, the other of those who live according to God ....To the City of Man belong the enemies of God, ...so inflamed with hatred against the City of God.
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What is reprehensible is that while leading good lives themselves and abhorring those of wicked men, some, fearing to offend, shut their eyes to evil deeds instead of condemning them and pointing out their malice.
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Let us therefore yield ourselves and bow to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, which can neither err nor deceive.
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I thought that continence was a matter of our own strength, and I knew that I had not the strength: for in my utter foolishness I did not know the word of Your Scripture that none can be continent unless You give it.
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We are certainly in a common class with the beasts; every action of animal life is concerned with seeking bodily pleasure and avoiding pain.
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For if it is not lawful to take the law into our own hands and slay even a guilty person, whose death no public sentence has warranted. Then certainly he who kills himself is a homicide, and so much the guiltier of his own death as he was more innocent of that offence for which he doomed himself to die.
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AugustineThe wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. To love with sternness is better than to deceive with gentleness.... In Luke [14:23] it is written: "Compel people to come in!" By threats of the wrath of God, the Father draws souls to his Son.
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He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms that it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near, but rather he who, whether it be far off or near, awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope, and fervent love.
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Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.
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When I am completely united to You, there will be no more sorrow or trials; entirely full of You, my life will be complete.
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Lord Jesus, don't let me lie when I say that I love you.....and protect me, for today I could betray you.
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We do not sin when we adore Christ in the Eucharist; we do sin when we do not adore Christ in the Eucharist.
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There is no possible source of evil except good.
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You have enemies. For who can live on this earth without them? Take heed to yourselves: love them. In no way can your enemy so hurt you by his violence, as you hurt yourself if you love him not.
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If a parricide is more wicked than anyone who commits homicide-because he kills not merely a man but a near relative-without doubt worse still is he who kills himself, because there is none nearer to a man than himself.
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Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.
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Conscience and reputation are two things. Conscience is due to yourself, reputation to your neighbour.
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Did my infancy succeed another age of mine that dies before it? Was it that which I spent within my mother's womb?... And what before that life again, O God of my joy, was I anywhere or in any body?
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Nothing so casts down the manly mind from it's height as the fondling of women and those bodily contacts which belong to the married state.
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For a sentence is not complete unless each word, once its syllables have been pronounced, gives way to make room for the next.
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"Otherwise grace is no more grace," since it is bestowed on us, not because we have done good works, but that we may be able to do them.
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Too late came I to love you, O Beauty both so ancient and so new! Too late came I to love you - and behold you were with me all the time . . .
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There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other.