QuoteProject
Man's maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.
Saint Augustine
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on the paradoxical nature of divinity and humanity, illustrating how the creator becomes part of creation and experiences human suffering.

Saint Augustine's quote delves into the profound mysteries of the Christian faith, emphasizing the humility and vulnerability of God, who chose to become human and experience the struggles of life. It highlights the contradictions inherent in the divine: the omnipotent one choosing to endure hunger, thirst, and suffering, ultimately culminating in death. This encapsulation of suffering reveals a deep understanding of human experience and divine love, suggesting that through these hardships, a greater purpose is served and a connection between humanity and divinity is forged.

Themes

DivinityHumanitySufferingParadoxSacrificeFaith

In practice

Example use cases

During a sermon to illustrate the humility of Christ in the face of suffering.

More from Saint Augustine

The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.
Saint AugustineRead
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.
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

I remembered some people who lived across the street from our home as we were being taken away. When I was a teenager, I had many after-dinner conversations with my father about our internment. He told me that after we were taken away, they came to our house and took everything. We were literally stripped clean.
George TakeiRead
The fact that the most powerful and significant connections in our lives are (at the time) invisible to us seems to me a compelling argument for religious reverence rather than skeptical empiricism as a response to life's meaning.
David Foster WallaceRead
But would we know, whether the pretended prophet had really attained a just sentiment of morals? Let us attend to his narration; and we shall soon find, that he bestows praise on such instances of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, bigotry, as are utterly incompatible with civilized society. No steady rule of right seems there to be attended to; and every action is blamed or praised, so far only as it is beneficial or hurtful to the true believers.
David HumeRead
Americans think they're the leader of the world and yet can say that they're putting their economic interests ahead of the lives of - quite possibly - tens of millions of people who over the next 50 years will die because of floods or storms or tropical diseases or whatever. I guess that sort of thing makes me angry.
Peter SingerRead
The chief cause of human errors is to be found in the prejudices picked up in childhood.
Rene DescartesRead
Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
ThucydidesRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.