Quotes from Saint Augustine

As the soul is the life of the body, so God is the life of the soul. As therefore the body perishes when the soul leaves it, so the soul dies when God departs from it.

What am I then, my God? What is my nature? A life varied, multifaceted and truly immense.

Who would not shudder if he were given the choice of eternal death or life again as a child ? Who would not choose to die ?

When I come to be united to thee with all my being, then there will be no more pain and toil for me, and my life shall be a real life, being wholly filled by thee.

It is not the punishment but the cause that makes the martyr.

Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt.

Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.

It is not often that we use language correctly; usually we use it incorrectly, though we understand each others meaning.

Let our lives be good, and the times are good. We make our times; such as we are, such are the times.

You can live, provided you live; that is, you can live for ever, provided you live a good life.

When I am completely united to You, there will be no more sorrow or trials; entirely full of You, my life will be complete.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient and ever new! Late have I loved you! And, behold, you were within me, and I out of myself, and there I searched for you.

Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible.

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

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

Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty.

Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.

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.

No man has a right to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the service due to his neighbor.

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.

Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood.

The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences.

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

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.