Quotes by Saint Augustine

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

— Saint Augustine

Life

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

Love

It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

Wisdom

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.

— Saint Augustine

Success

Love is the beauty of the soul.

— Saint Augustine

Love

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

Wisdom

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

Wisdom

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

— Saint Augustine

Love

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

Wisdom

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

Wisdom

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

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

— Saint Augustine

Love

Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.

— Saint Augustine

Love

He that is jealous is not in love.

— Saint Augustine

Love

Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

Wisdom

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.

— Saint Augustine

Wisdom

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

Friendship