Augustine - Quoteworthy

If we did not have rational souls, we would not be able to believe.
Saint Augustine

In the spirit of my recent blog about making wise thoughts our own, I recommend this: find a few people who were well known for their wisdom, and revisit their thoughts on occasion.

Augustine of Hippo (St. Augustine) was one of these people. His quote above is one of many.

Of course, people such as Augustine also wrote longer works, which are worthy of more intensive reading. A major figure in Christian history, he expressed through his writings many deep and powerful ideas which continue to influence philosophy, theology and Christian thought. Augustine was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of the need to integrate the interpretation of scripture with the truths revealed in scientific knowledge.

Great as his long works are, in our daily lives it is often quite useful to have these shorter words of wisdom easily at hand. And so, with that in mind, I give you another:

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

And one more, which is always challenging to learn, to one's heart:

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.
Saint Augustine