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

“Saint Augustine defined idolatry as worshiping what should be used or using what should be worshiped”

“Saint Augustine … insisted that scripture taught nothing but charity. Whatever the biblical author may have intended, any passage that seemed to preach hatred and was not conducive to love must be interpreted allegorically and made to speak of charity.”

“The topic was eloquence, something Christians had been conflicted about since the first-century church when Paul wrote that in bringing the gospel, he did not come with “eloquence.” A few centuries later, Saint Augustine wrestled with the value of eloquence, associating it with his pagan background and training in Greek rhetoric while simultaneously employing it winsomely in his Christian writings. Such suspicion of beauty and form, whether in art, literature, speech, or human flesh, has shadowed Christian thought throughout the history of the church; sadly so, considering God is the author of all beauty.”

“There is no sin unless through a man's own will, and hence the reward when we do right things also of our own ”

“Punishment is justice for the unjust.”

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

“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.”

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

“If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times.”

“The purpose of all wars, is peace.”