Augustine of Hippo on the Love of God
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.
12 quotations from Augustine of Hippo on the Love of God, each traced to the exact paragraph it comes from. Follow any of them into the full text — free, and without an account.
Confessions 10
Thou light of my heart, Thou bread of my inmost soul, Thou Power who givest vigour to my mind, who quickenest my thoughts, I loved Thee not.
I will now call to mind my past foulness, and the carnal corruptions of my soul; not because I love them, but that I may love Thee, O my God.
Luxury affects to be called plenty and abundance; but Thou art the fulness and never-failing plenteousness of incorruptible pleasures.
I sought what I might love, in love with loving, and safety I hated, and a way without snares.
O Thou Good omnipotent, who so carest for every one of us, as if Thou caredst for him only; and so for all, as if they were but one!
Surely unhappy is he who knoweth all these, and knoweth not Thee: but happy whoso knoweth Thee, though he know not these.
Surely vain are all men who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things which are seen, find out Him who is good.
Not with doubting, but with assured consciousness, do I love Thee, Lord.
What then do I love, when I love my God? who is He above the head of my soul?
Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new!
The Enchiridion 2
Now we love even our neighbor by faith; for we who are ourselves mortal know not the hearts of mortal men.
We love God now by faith, then we shall love Him through sight.