Saint Augustine Quotes
Born: November 13, 354
A towering intellect of the late Roman Empire, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) was a philosopher and theologian whose restless search for truth forged a legacy of profound introspection. His philosophy, rooted in the tension between the temporal world and eternal wisdom, explored the depths of human will, memory, and time. For the modern mind, his quotes resonate because they dissect the very nature of innovation—the struggle to create meaning amid chaos, the drive to transcend our limits, and the yearning for a higher order in a fragmented world. Augustine’s words offer a timeless blueprint for navigating change with moral clarity.
Saint Augustine Quotes (73)
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."
— Saint Augustine"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
— Saint Augustine"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
— Saint Augustine"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul."
— Saint Augustine"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"It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
— Saint Augustine"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"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"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
— Saint Augustine"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."
— Saint Augustine"Patience is the companion of wisdom."
— Saint Augustine"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."
— Saint Augustine"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."
— Saint Augustine"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"He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent."
— Saint Augustine"It seems to me that an unjust law is no law at all."
— Saint Augustine"In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?"
— Saint Augustine"In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty."
— Saint Augustine"Love is the beauty of the soul."
— Saint Augustine"God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist."
— Saint Augustine"O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams."
— Saint Augustine"Oh Lord, give me chastity, but do not give it yet."
— Saint Augustine"God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering."
— Saint Augustine"Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature."
— Saint Augustine"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"I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden."
— Saint Augustine"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"Punishment is justice for the unjust."
— Saint Augustine"Hear the other side."
— Saint Augustine"Charity is no substitute for justice withheld."
— Saint Augustine