Augustine of Hippo

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.

In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.

Oh Lord, give me chastity, but do not give it yet.

O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.

If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times.

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.

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.

To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.

The honors of this world, what are they but puff, and emptiness, and peril of falling?

I found thee not, O Lord, without, because I erred in seeking thee without that wert within.

My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find out what that light was wherein it was bathed... And thus, with the flash of one hurried glance, it attained to the vision of That Which Is.

Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked.

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.

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.

What I needed most was to love and to be loved, eager to be caught. Happily I wrapped those painful bonds around me; and sure enough, I would be lashed with the red-hot pokers or jealousy, by suspicions and fear, by burst of anger and quarrels.

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.

The purpose of all wars, is peace.

O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.

We cannot pass our guardian angel's bounds, resigned or sullen, he will hear our sighs.

Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.

Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.

Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.

Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.

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