Who Is Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo Biography

Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, was a prominent Christian theologian, philosopher, and bishop of the 4th and 5th centuries. He was born in 354 AD in the Roman province of Africa (present-day Algeria) and was raised in a Christian household. However, in his youth, he followed a lifestyle of hedonism and pursued a career in rhetoric before converting to Christianity.

Augustine is best known for his writings, particularly his "Confessions," which is considered one of the most important works in Western Christianity. In it, he reflects on his past life and his conversion to Christianity. He also wrote many other influential works such as "City of God" and "On the Trinity" that helped shape Christian theology and philosophy.

ELEVATE
Free Resource: A step-by-step blueprint to realize your dreams

Augustine's ideas and writings had a significant impact on the development of Western Christianity and continue to be studied and debated to this day. He is considered one of the greatest Christian thinkers and his writings are still widely read and studied. He passed away on August 28, 430 AD in Hippo, modern-day Annaba, Algeria.

Augustine of Hippo Fast Facts

* Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, was a Christian theologian and philosopher born in 354 AD in the Roman province of Africa (modern-day Algeria).
* He was raised in a Christian family but turned away from the faith in his youth, living a life of hedonism before converting to Christianity in his 30s.
* Augustine is considered one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity and is considered one of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time.
* He is best known for his book "Confessions," an autobiographical work in which he details his spiritual journey and development.
* Augustine developed the concept of original sin and the idea that humans are inherently flawed and in need of redemption through God's grace.
* He also wrote extensively on the nature of God, the Trinity, and the relationship between faith and reason.
* Augustine was a strong advocate for the use of reason in understanding religious truth and his ideas had a significant impact on the development of Christian theology and philosophy.
* Augustine served as a bishop in the city of Hippo (now Annaba, Algeria) for over 35 years and was a key figure in the fight against the heresy of Pelagianism.
* Augustine passed away on August 28, 430 AD during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals.
* He was canonized by the Catholic Church and is recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches.

Augustine of Hippo Top Quotes

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Meaning)

"In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty." (Meaning)

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

"Love is the beauty of the soul."

"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul." (Meaning)

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." (Meaning)

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." (Meaning)

ELEVATE
Free Resource: Over 1000 smart goal ideas to inspire your life

"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die" (Meaning)

"He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent." (Meaning)

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." (Meaning)

"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation." (Meaning)

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." (Meaning)

"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." (Meaning)

"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." (Meaning)

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." (Meaning)

"He that is jealous is not in love." (Meaning)

ELEVATE
Free Resource: A step-by-step process for healthier social media use

"Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood." (Meaning)

"Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you." (Meaning)

"In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?" (Meaning)

"The purpose of all wars, is peace." (Meaning)

"Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature." (Meaning)

"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works." (Meaning)

"Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity." (Meaning)

"The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences." (Meaning)

"It seems to me that an unjust law is no law at all." (Meaning)

"Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again." (Meaning)

"Love, and do what you like." (Meaning)

"Hear the other side." (Meaning)

"Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked." (Meaning)

"He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king." (Meaning)

- Augustine of Hippo Quotes

***

* The editor of this short biography made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any quotes, facts, or key life events. If you're looking to expand your personal development, I recommend exploring other people's life stories and gaining inspiration from my collection of inspiring quotes. Exposing yourself to different perspectives can broaden your worldview and help you with your personal growth.

Reading is Smart. Applying is Smarter:  Apply
Subscribe on YouTube to get more wisdom:  

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.

 
Actualize Your Potential
Get my simplified process for realizing dreams (The exact process that enabled me to achieve 100 life goals in 10 years)
GET IT FREE:
Access my Start With WHY workbook for free, designed to guide you toward your purpose and the person you are meant to become
expert_advice
Align With Your Why
Elevate In Your Inbox
Get actionable insights, best practices, and wisdom you can apply — No hype, No fluff. Just practical ideas that might change your life.

Read The Art of Fully Living

There's no going back-once you embark on the journey you're meant to live, it's impossible to settle for anything less than your dreams.

Click here to learn more

Set Better Goals

Learn a better and smarter approach to setting and achieving goals. It's not just about what you want to achieve, but who you must become in the process.

Click here to learn more
Take The Free Test
Discover your areas for growth in just 5 minutes. Take the FREE self-evaluation test and pinpoint where to focus your efforts

Uplevel Your Game

Explore The Roadmaps

Access a self-paced online roadmap that turns big goals into realities, complete with daily study guides, actionable steps, and proven practices from the world's best minds
Reclaim your freedom, escape 9-5, and live the life you were meant to live — A self-paced roadmap with daily study guides, actionable steps, and proven practices

Explore The All-Access

Unlock unlimited, lifetime access to a growing library of actionable knowledge and study guides from the world's top minds.
Join The Accelerator
Join a 10-week, personalized immersion that will accelerate your goal-attainment, elevate you to your next level, and turn your big dreams into reality.
Learn More
Contact
Thanks for reading. It makes a difference. A portion of all proceeds from our endeavors supports entrepreneurs in the developing world. View Impact...