Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was a Christian philosopher and theologian. This bishop of the City of Hippo was an important figure in the evolution of pagan attitudes into Christian philosophy.
Born in Tagaste in the Roman province of Numidia in North Africa, now Algeria, to a pagan father and a Christian mother, Augustine converted to Christianity at the age of 31 under the influence of Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Augustine desired a quiet life of philosophizing about theology and writing books. However, when he moved to the port town of Hippo to establish a monastery, he was required to take over the duties of the local bishop. He regretted that he had to spend much time delivering sermons and running a parish instead of writing.
Saint Augustine is known today for his two major works, The Confessions (397–400 CE,) and The City of God (426 CE,) the latter written after the fall of Rome to the Barbarians in 410 CE. In The Confessions, one of the first memoirs of Western literature, Augustine scrutinized his earlier life—the sins he had committed—crying over a fictional character in a poem, stealing pears from a neighbor’s tree, sexual fantasies and exploits, long relationship with a concubine, and so forth. His meditations on his emotional development and the growth of his soul in the context of his own pagan experience are often seen as an argument for Roman Catholicism.
Saint Augustine is also remembered for his philosophies about the notion of original sin—he asserted that all humans are born sinful because they are descended from Adam and Eve, who committed the first sin.
Soon after his death of Augustine, the City of Hippo was destroyed by Vandals. Augustine’s library survived, and all his ideas about resisting pagan influences became church doctrine. His urging that all Christian churches follow the central church in Rome was responsible for preventing the Christian faith from breaking up into separate churches during the medieval period.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Augustine of Hippo
Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Prayer, Work
Blessedness consists in the accomplishment of our desires, and in our having only regular desires.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Happiness
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.”
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Worry
Love, and do what you like.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Value of Time, Time Management, Simple Living, Love, Simplicity
Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Bravery, Courage
Before God can deliver us we must undeceive ourselves.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Repentance
He who commends the nature of the soul as the supreme good, and condemns the nature of the flesh as evil, at once both carnally desires the soul, and carnally flies the flesh, because he feels thus from human vanity, not from divine truth.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Soul
Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Helping, Service
The greatest evil is physical pain.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Pain
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.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Friends, Friendship, Feelings
The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only one page.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Travel
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.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Humility
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Duty, Proverbs, Praise
I want my friend to miss me as long as I miss him.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Friends and Friendship
Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Forgiveness
He who is filled with love is filled with God himself.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Love
Do you wish to rise?. Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds?. Lay first the foundation of humility.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Leadership, Leaders, Humility
God will not suffer man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity, he would be careless; and if understanding of his adversity, he would be despairing and senseless.
—Augustine of Hippo
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Patience, Wisdom
What you are must always displease you, if you would attain to that which you are not.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Life, Motivation
When we read a book, our most essential trait – imagination – is given the opportunity to soar.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Imagination
O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Cheerfulness
This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfection.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Perfection, Perfect
Our hearts have been made for you, O God, and they shall never rest until they rest in you.
—Augustine of Hippo
Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Grace
I asked the whole frame of the world about my God; and he answered, “I am not He, but He made me.”
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Creation
People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Reflection, Journeys, Self-Discovery, People, Wonder
Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Habits, Habit
Faith is to believe, on the word of God, what we do not see, and its reward is to see and enjoy what we believe.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Faith
The people who remained victorious were less like conquerors than conquered.
—Augustine of Hippo
Topics: Victory
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