10 Unforgettable St. Augustine Quotations
St. Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, is one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity and Western philosophy. His most famous work, The Confessions of St. Augustine, is a profoundly reflective autobiography that explores his spiritual journey. Discover 10 unforgettable quotations from Augustine that offer profound insights for personal growth, touching on human conversion, Scripture, and the pursuit of wisdom—wisdom you can apply to transform your life.
1
For you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.
book 1, chapter 1
St. Augustine’s famous prayer resonates with the very essence of our existence. He reminds us that God crafted us for a higher purpose, destined to seek fulfillment beyond the confines of this world. Ever restless, our hearts yearn for a deeper connection—a divine rest only found in our spiritual journey. Augustine’s words serve as a guiding light, urging us to seek meaning and purpose. We will only find true and everlasting rest in our Creator.
2
And even from the womb of my mother, who had great hope in you, I was sealed with the mark of his cross and salted with his salt.
book 1, chapter 11
In reflecting on his life’s journey, St. Augustine beautifully encapsulates that faith is a thread woven throughout our existence. He eloquently expresses how, even before his birth, his mother’s unwavering faith had already left an indelible mark upon his soul. The imagery of being “sealed with the mark of his cross and salted with his salt” evokes a profound sense of destiny and belonging. He reminds us that our spiritual path begins long before we take our first breath.
3
For my sin was that I sought out pleasures, grandeurs, and truths not in him but in his creatures, in myself and in others, and thus fell headlong into sorrows, confusion, and errors.
Book 1, chapter 20
This self-reflection reveals the universal human journey toward understanding the nature of sin and salvation. St. Augustine reflects on his transgressions and their origin. Most of us seek fulfillment in earthly pleasures, ambitions, and human truths rather than God. Augustine’s words remind us of the pitfalls of misplaced priorities, urging us to turn our focus from the fleeting to the eternal. In acknowledging his descent into sorrow, confusion, and error, he offers a path of redemption, inviting us to find our way back to friendship with God.
4
At once, every vain
book 3, chapter 4
hope became worthless to me, and with a hot-burning desire I
longed for immortality in wisdom and began now to rise upward,
so that I might return to you.
These words voice a powerful transformation of the human spirit. Augustine describes a pivotal moment when the allure of fleeting desires and empty hopes lost their grip on his heart. With a fiery yearning, he turned his gaze away from what the world has to offer and toward what God has to offer. Augustine’s journey is a human quest we’re all on. His story reminds us that we can set our sights on the immortal wisdom that leads us back to our Father.
5
None lose you except
book 4, chapter 9
those who depart from you.
In just a few simple words, St. Augustine conveys a profound truth: the loss of a connection with the divine is not caused by any action from God but rather by human choices to turn away. In this short remark, Augustine reminds us that the path to spiritual connection remains open to all who seek it. We can only distance ourselves from the source of grace and guidance of our own volition. God calls us back to his embrace. The choice to seek or lose faith lies within our own hearts.
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6
From you, therefore, I now learned that neither should anything seem to be true merely because it is eloquently expressed
Book 5, Chapter 6
nor, therefore, anything false merely because the words are
unsophisticated sounding, nor, again, something true because it is
unsophisticated, nor something false merely because it is expressed
in splendid language.
A timeless lesson in discernment and faith, Augustine guides us to look beyond the surface of words. He emphasizes that eloquence does not guarantee truth, nor does simplicity indicate falsehood. We must delve deeper into the substance of ideas. In a world often dazzled by eloquent rhetoric, his counsel serves as a reminder to seek the authenticity of thought and the sincerity of expression.
7
Give me chastity
book 8, chapter 7
and self-restraint, though not yet.
St. Augustine’s famous prayer for chastity and self-restraint, delivered with humor, speaks to the essence of human struggle. In these words, he acknowledges the common human inclination to delay virtuous intentions for the allure of immediate gratification. He speaks to the internal battle between our desires and our better judgment. Augustine’s prayer reminds us that the path to virtue often begins with a heartfelt plea for strength. Self-improvement starts with honest reflection and a desire to change.
8
No further would I read, nor did I
book 8, chapter 12
need to do so, for instantly, upon reaching the end of this sentence, I
was illuminated, as it were, by a light that was serenely infused into
my heart, and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.
In this profound moment of St. Augustine’s life, he vividly captures the transformative power of Divine Revelation. As he reached the culmination of his reading, he experienced a radiant clarity that dispelled the shadows of doubt. Augustine’s words remind us that conversion is a life-long journey. He offers us hope. Profound wisdom can arrive instantly, reshaping our lives and filling our souls with newfound certainty and purpose.
9
Late have I love you, O beauty so ancient yet ever new! Late
book 10, chapter 27
have I loved you! Behold, you were within and I was out abroad,
searching there for you. Deformed, I plunged into the fair forms
that you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. I
was held back far from you by things, which would not themselves
be if they were not in you. You called, you shouted, and you burst
open my deafness. You flashed, you shone in radiance, and you
drove away my blindness. You breathed forth your fragrance, and I
drew my breath and sighed for you. I tasted, and now I hunger and
thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.
In this prayer, St. Augustine bares his heart in a profound confession of a belated but fervent love for God’s eternal beauty. He reflects on a life spent searching for fulfillment in transient pursuits, only to discover that the true source of beauty and meaning resided within. Augustine’s words remind us that, despite our wanderings, the call to return to our spiritual home is ever-present. God desires to dispel our blindness, ignite our passion, and satisfy our hunger for peace.
10
How wondrous is the depth of
book 12, chapter 14
your words!
St. Augustine’s exclamation encapsulates his profound awe and reverence when contemplating the divine. In these simple words, he acknowledges the richness of Scripture and the inexhaustible depths of God’s teachings. Augustine reminds us of the boundless mysteries of our faith’s sacred texts and teachings. It’s a testament to the never-ending journey of discovery and wonder accompanying our quest for God.
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