The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.
Saint AugustineRead
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
Interpretation
What this quote means
Knowledge of the future could lead to carelessness in good times and despair in bad times, hindering meaningful choices.
Saint Augustine's quote suggests that if humans had foreknowledge of their future, it would negatively impact their ability to live fully in the present. Understanding the ups and downs of life before they occur might make individuals complacent when they expect good outcomes, or hopeless when faced with difficulties, ultimately diminishing their capacity to engage with life meaningfully.
Themes
KnowledgeFutureLifeAdversityProsperity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of living in the moment, you could use this quote to highlight how anxiety about the future can distract us from our present actions.
More from Saint Augustine
All quotes →There 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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