52 Quotes & Sayings By Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine was a prominent early Christian theologian and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the fields of Christian theology, natural theology, the doctrine of humanity, and natural law. His influence on Western thought can also be seen in the development of the concepts of original sin, predestination, the Trinity, aniconism, and trinity.

1
It is human to err but it is devilish to remain willfully in error. Saint Augustine
2
Faith is to believe what we do not see the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. Saint Augustine
3
Seek not to understand that thou mayest believe but believe that thou mayest understand. Saint Augustine
4
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. Saint Augustine
5
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. Saint Augustine
6
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. Saint Augustine
7
Order your soul reduce your wants live in charity associate in Christian community obey the laws trust in Providence. Saint Augustine
8
Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need the remainder is needed by others. Saint Augustine
9
What you are must always displease you if you would attain to that which you are not. Saint Augustine
10
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
11
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. Saint Augustine
12
It is the function of perfection to make one know one's imperfection. Saint Augustine
13
If we live good lives the times are also good. As we are such are the times. Saint Augustine
14
Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do. Saint Augustine
15
By-and-by never comes. Saint Augustine
16
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Saint Augustine
17
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. Saint Augustine
18
He that is jealous is not in love. Saint Augustine
19
Love is the beauty of the soul. Saint Augustine
20
Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. Saint Augustine
21
Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. Saint Augustine
22
Custom is second nature. Saint Augustine
23
Patience is the companion of wisdom. Saint Augustine
24
Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible. Saint Augustine
25
Our bodies are shaped to bear children, and our lives are a working out of the processes of creation. All our ambitions and intelligence are beside that great elemental point. Saint Augustine
26
The same thing which is now called Christian religion existed among the ancients. They have begun to call 'Christian' the true religion which existed before. Saint Augustine
27
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. Saint Augustine
28
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. Saint Augustine
29
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Saint Augustine
30
Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need the remainder is needed by others. Saint Augustine
31
God is best known in not knowing him. Saint Augustine
32
I found thee not, O Lord, without, because I erred in seeking thee without that wert within. Saint Augustine
33
The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences. Saint Augustine
34
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. Saint Augustine
35
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. Saint Augustine
36
The greatest evil is physical pain. Saint Augustine
37
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. Saint Augustine
38
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine
39
Faith is to believe what you do not see the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. Saint Augustine
40
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. Saint Augustine
41
O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet. Saint Augustine
42
Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty. Saint Augustine
43
I want my friend to miss me as long as I miss him. Saint Augustine
44
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? Saint Augustine
45
Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity. Saint Augustine
46
The purpose of all wars, is peace. Saint Augustine
47
If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times. Saint Augustine
48
Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. Saint Augustine
49
It was pride that changed angels into devils it is humility that makes men as angels. Saint Augustine
50
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. Saint Augustine
51
Punishment is justice for the unjust. Saint Augustine