Saint Augustine Quotes
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Try as they may to savor the taste of eternity, their thoughts still twist and turn upon the ebb and flow of things in past and future time. But if only their minds could be seized and held steady, they would be still for a while and, for that short moment, they would glimse the splendor of eternity, which is forever still.
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Every day my conscience makes confession relying on the hope of Your mercy as more to be trusted than its own innocence.
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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.
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A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the seas. This is the time to awaken Christ and let Him remind you of these words
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Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.
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I make bold to say that it is profitable for the proud to fall, in order that they may be humbled in that for which they have exalted themselves.
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You are surprised that the world is losing its grip? That the world is grown old? Don't hold onto the old man, the world; don't refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you: 'The world is passing away; the world is losing its grip; the world is short of breath. Don't fear, your youth shall be renewed as an eagle.'
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For God loves saving, not condemning, and therefore He is patient with bad people, in order to make good people out of bad people.
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Love, and do what you will. If you are silent, be silent for love; or if you cry out, cry out for love. If you chastise, chastise for love; if you spare, spare for love.
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Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt.
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Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth. Everyone therefore who doubts whether truth exists has in himself a truth on which not to doubt.... Hence one who can doubt at all ought not to doubt the existence of truth.
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How high a price we pay for the burden of habit! I am fitted for life here where I do not want to be, I want to live there but am unfit for it, and on both counts I am miserable.
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Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
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There can only be two basic loves... the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto the forgetfulness and denial of God.
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Because I do it with one small ship, I am called a terrorist. You do it with a whole fleet and are called an emperor.
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We must understand then, that even though God doesn't always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.
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Since God is the highest good, he would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil.
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Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.
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Just think of the illimitable abundance and the marvelous loveliness of light, or of the beauty of the sun and moon and stars.
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Although among heretics and schismatics there is the same Baptism, nevertheless, the remission of sins is not operative among them because of the very rottenness of discord and wickedness of dissension ... Baptism was in them, but it did not profit them outside the Church ... Outside the Church, Baptism works death because of discord.
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The entire most beautiful order of things that are very good, when their measures have been accomplished, is to pass away.
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It is not with respect to our convenience or discomfort, but with respect to their own nature that the creatures are glorifying to their Artificer.
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God's faithful servant has no desire for people to say or to give to him, or what he likes to hear or see, for his first and greatest aim is to hear what is most pleasing to God.
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For if a thing is not diminished by being shared with others, it is not rightly owned if it is only owned and not shared.