Top quotes by Augustine of Hippo

A sense of Deity is inscribed on every heart. Nay, even idolatry is ample evidence of this fact. Votes: 8

O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams. Votes: 7

Free curiosity has greater power to stimulate learning than rigorous coercion. Nevertheless, the free ranging flux of curiosity is channeled by discipline under Your Law. Votes: 5

For what am I to myself without You, but a guide to my own downfall? Votes: 4

Free curiosity has greater power to stimulate learning than rigorous coercion. Nevertheless, the free ranging flux of curiosity is channeled by discipline under Your Law." Votes: 4

You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run. Votes: 4

That vague and wandering opinion of Deity is declared by an apostle to be ignorance of God: Votes: 4

You are not blamed for your unwilling ignorance, but because you fail to ask about what you do not know.... For no one is prevented from leaving behind the disadvantage of ignorance and seeking the advantage of knowledge. Votes: 4

... the earthly city glories in itself, the Heavenly City glories in the Lord. Votes: 4

Every day my conscience makes confession relying on the hope of Your mercy as more to be trusted than its own innocence. Votes: 4

A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot Votes: 3

Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. Votes: 2

How can the past and future be, when the past no longer is, and the future is not yet? As for the present, if it were always present and never moved on to become the past, it would not be time, but eternity. Votes: 2

The peace of the celestial city is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God, and of one another in God. (City of God, Book 19) Votes: 2

it is a higher gloryto stay war itself with a word, than to slay men with the sword, and to procure or maintain peace by peace, not by war. Votes: 1

Prayer is the key that opens heaven; the favors we ask descend upon us the very instant our prayers ascend to God. Votes: 1

What is going on in our minds, then, that we should be more highly delighted at finding cherished objects, or having them restored to us, than if we had always kept them safe? Votes: 1

For a prohibition always increases an illicit desire so long as the love of and joy in holiness is too weak to conquer the inclination to sin... Votes: 1

For whence had that former sorrow so easily penetrated to the quick, but that I had poured out my soul upon the dust, in loving one who must die? Votes: 1

It's not in the book or in the writer that readers discern the truth of what they read; they see it in themselves, if the light of truth has penetrated their minds. Votes: 1

And yet, will we ever come to an end of discussion and talk if we think we must always reply to replies? For replies come from those who either cannot understand what is said to them, or are so stubborn and contentious that they refuse to give in even if they do understand. Votes: 1

There is no health in those who are displeased by an element in Your creation, just as there was none in me when I was displeased by many things You had made. Because my soul didn't dare to say that my God displeased me, it refused to attribute to You whatever was displeasing. Votes: 1

This disease of curiosity. Votes: 1

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. Votes: 1

His knowledge is not like ours, which has three tenses: present, past, and future. God's knowledge has no change or variation. Votes: 1

Is any man skillful enough to have fashioned himself? Votes: 1

Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? Votes: 1

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. Votes: 1

I probably felt more resentment for what I personally was to suffer than for the wrong they were doing to anyone and everyone. But at that time I was determined not to put up with badly behaved people more out of my own interest than because I wanted them to become good people. Votes: 1

If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself. Votes: 1

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. Votes: 0

To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement. Votes: 0

Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. Votes: 0

Yet we must say something when those who say the most are saying nothing. Votes: 0

This, then, is true liberty: the joy that comes in doing what is right. At the same time, it is also devoted service in obedience to righteous precept. Votes: 0

When it happens that I am more moved by the song than the thing which is sung, I confess that I sin in a manner deserving punishment Votes: 0

Love the sinner and hate the sin. Votes: 0

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. Votes: 0