Augustine quotes

I've come to the letters of Augustine in the Post-Nicene Fathers series.
Here are some favorite passages so far.


On conscience:
"There is nothing in all the dungeons of this world, nay, not even in hell itself, to surpass the dreadful doom of darkness to which a villain is consigned by remorse of conscience."  (pg 508)


On disagreeing with famous teachers:
"The reasonings of any men whatsoever, even though they be Catholics [orthodox in doctrine], and of high reputation, are not to be treated by us in the same way as the canonical Scriptures are treated.  We are at liberty, without doing any violence to the respect which these men deserve, to condemn and reject anything in their writings, if perchance we shall find that they have entertained opinions differing from that which others or we ourselves have, by the divine help, discovered to be the truth.  I deal thus with the writings of others, and I wish my intelligent readers to deal thus with mine."  He later mentions Ambrose, Jerome, Athansius and Gregory are examples he is talking about. (502)


Forced obedience isn't obedience:
"Who is found innocent in God's sight who is willing to do the sin which is forbidden if you only remove the punishment which is feared?... 
He then is an enemy to righteousness who refrains from sin only through fear of punishment....
Every one hates sin just in proportion as he loves righteousness; which he will be enabled to do not through the law putting him in fear by the letter of its prohibitions, but by the Spirit healing him by grace...
Let not the fear of punishment drive you to a life of righteousness; but let the pleasure found in righteousness and the love you bear to it draw you to practise it...." (496)


From the First Series, vol. 1