If the work of God could be comprehended by reason, it would no longer be wonderful, and faith would have no merit if reason provided proof.

If the intention is unclean, the deed that follows from it will also be evil, even if it seems good.

You cannot acquire the gift of peace if by your anger you destroy the peace of the Lord.

There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love for a soldier who returns after fleeing, and who valiantly pursues the enemy, than for one who never turned back, but who never acted valiantly either. A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully, after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest.

I despise the proper constructions and cases, because I think it very unfitting that the words of the celestial oracle should be restricted by the rules of Donatus [a well-known grammarian].

To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail.

And here we must narrowly watch ourselves, seeing that banquets can scarcely be celebrated blamelessly, for almost always luxury accompanies feasting; and when the body is swallowed up in the delight of refreshing itself, the heart relaxes to empty joys.