The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.
Saint AugustineRead
When [men] go to war, what they want is to impose on their enemies the victor's will and call it peace.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Saint Augustine critiques the hypocrisy in the concept of peace achieved through war, highlighting the desire for domination rather than true tranquility.
In this quote, Saint Augustine explores the paradox of war and peace, suggesting that what often passes for peace is merely a result of one group imposing its will over another. This perspective critiques the glorification of war, emphasizing that genuine peace cannot be achieved through force or domination, but rather through understanding and respect among nations.
Themes
WarPeaceHypocrisyDominationPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the consequences of conflict, one might say, 'As Saint Augustine observed, when men go to war, they often impose their will rather than seeking true peace.'
More from Saint Augustine
All quotes βThere is no health in those who are displeased by an element in Your creation, just as there was none in me when I was displeased by many things You had made. Because my soul didn't dare to say that my God displeased me, it refused to attribute to You whatever was displeasing.
Saint AugustineRead
Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.
Saint AugustineRead
Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart.
Saint AugustineRead
Whatever skills I have acquired, whatever gifts I have been given, I place them at Your service.
Saint AugustineRead
Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth. Everyone therefore who doubts whether truth exists has in himself a truth on which not to doubt.... Hence one who can doubt at all ought not to doubt the existence of truth.
Saint AugustineRead
Similar quotes
The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal and hasten the resurrection of the dead.
William Lloyd GarrisonRead
One will rarely err if extreme actions be ascribed to vanity, ordinary actions to habit, and mean actions to fear.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Sin contains its own judgement and punishment.
Dalai LamaRead
(On entering Carmel) I came to save souls and especially to pray for priests.
Therese Of LisieuxRead
The challenge of modern freedom, or the combination of isolation and freedom which confronts you, is to make yourself up. The danger is that you may emerge from the process as a not-entirely-human creature. (Referenced in How to Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young)
Saul BellowRead
The gods made our bodies as well as our souls, is it not so? They give us voices, so we might worship them with song. They give us hands, so we might build them temples. And they give us desire, so we might mate and worship them in that way.
George R. R. MartinRead