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“At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as special favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Do not be grieved if you do not enjoy popular favor; grieve rather that you do not live as well and carefully as befits a servant of God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small, but let the love of pure truth draw you to read. Do not inquire, “Who said this?” but pay attention to what is said.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 1, chapter 4: ‘On Prudence in Action’
“Do not let your peace depend on what people say of you, for whether they speak good or ill of you makes no difference to what you are. True peace and joy is to be found in Me alone. He who is neither anxious to please nor afraid to displease men enjoys true peace.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 3, chapter 28: ‘Against Slander’
“For such is the weakness of human nature, alas, that evil is often more readily believed and spoken of another than good. But perfect men do not easily believe every tale that is told them, for they know that man’s nature is prone to evil, and his words to deception.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 1, chapter 4: ‘On Prudence in Action’
“He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.” - Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book.” -Thomas à Kempis
“If thou shalt remain faithful and zealous in labor, doubt not that God shall be faithful and bountiful in rewarding thee. It is thy duty to have a good hope that thou wilt attain the victory: but thou must not fall into security lest thou become slothful or lifted up.” -Thomas à Kempis
“If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?” -Thomas à Kempis
“In judging others, a man labors in vain; he often errs, and easily falls into sin; but in judging and examining himself, he always labors to good purpose.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“Jesus hath many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He hath many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He findeth many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to undergo anything for His sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of His loaves, but few that they may drink of the cup of His passion. Many are astonished at His miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities happen to them. Many praise Him and bless Him, so long as they receive any comforts from Him. But if Jesus hide Himself and withdraw a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too great dejection of mind.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Man proposes, but God disposes.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book i, Chapter 19
“Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book iii, Chapter 12
“Oh how swiftly the glory of the world passes away! If only the lives of these men had been as admirable as their learning, their study and reading would have been to good purpose! But how many in this world care little for the service of God, and perish in their vain learning. Because they choose to be great rather than humble, they perish in their own conceit.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), book i, chapter 3
“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“What doth it profit thee to enter into deep discussions concerning the Holy Trinity, if thou lack humility, and be thus displeasing to the Trinity? For verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and upright; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God. I had rather feel contrition than be skillful in the definition thereof. If thou knewest the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what should this profit thee without the love and grace of God?” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“When Christ was in the world, He was despised by men; in the hour of need He was forsaken by acquaintances and left by friends to the depths of scorn. He was willing to suffer and to be despised; do you dare to complain of anything? He had enemies and defamers; do you want everyone to be your friend, your benefactor? How can your patience be rewarded if no adversity tests it? How can you be a friend of Christ if you are not willing to suffer any hardship? Suffer with Christ and for Christ if you wish to reign with Him. Had you but once entered into perfect communion with Jesus or tasted a little of His ardent love, you would care nothing at all for your own comfort or discomfort but would rejoice in the reproach you suffer; for love of Him makes a man despise himself.” -Thomas a Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“Whoever loves much, does much.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), I, xv
Thomas à Kempis was born in 1380. Thomas à Kempis passed on in 1471.
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“The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness.” -Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison was born on 1 May 1672 in Milston, Wiltshire, England, as the eldest son of Reverend Lancelot Addison. He became an essayist, a dramatist, a poet, a politician, and co-founder with Richard Steele of “The Spectator” (1711 - 1712) magazine. Joseph Addison passed on at 47 years of age on 17 June 1719 in London, England.
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“A Christian must not while away time. Get engaged in something.” -Sunday Adelaja
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“All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” -Archibald Alexander (1772 - 1851)
Archibald Alexander was born in 1772. Archibald Alexander passed on in 1851.
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“When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.” -Charles L. Allen
Charles Livingstone Allen was born on 24 June 1913 in Newborn, Georgia, United States of America. He became an ordained minister and a pastor, and held the title Reverend, in the United Methodist denomination of Christianity. Charles Livingstone Allen passed on at 92 years of age on 30 August 2005 in Houston, Texas, United States of America.
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“There is little good in filling churches with people who go out exactly the same as they came in; the call of the Church is not to fill churches but to fill Heaven.” -Father Andrew: “The Way of Victory” (1938)
Henry Ernest Hardy, also known as Father Andrew, was born on 7 January 1869 in Kasauli, India. He became an Anglican clergyman, a friar, a painter, and a poet. He is known as a co-founder of the Society of Divine Compassion, which worked for the poor in the East End of London, England. Henry Ernest Hardy passed on at 77 years of age on 31 March 1946 in the East End of London, England.
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“Nor do I seek to understand that I may believe but I believe that I may understand. For this too I believe that unless I first believe I shall not understand.” -Anselm of Canterbury
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“True peace consists in not separating ourselves from the will of God.” -Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy. He became a Roman Catholic Christian priest and friar, a philosopher, and a theologian. Thomas Aquinas passed on in 1274.
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“Since nothing we intend is ever faultless and nothing we attempt ever without error and nothing we achieve without some measure of finitude and fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness.” -David Augsburger
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“Already I had learned from thee that because a thing is eloquently expressed it should not be taken to be as necessarily true; nor because it is uttered with stammering lips should it be supposed false. A thing is not necessarily false because it is badly expressed, nor true because it is expressed magnificently.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Confessions” (about 397), V, 6
“God chooses us, not because we believe, but that we may believe.” -Augustine of Hippo
“If anyone will piously and soberly consider the sermon which our Lord Jesus spoke on the mount, as we read it in the Gospel according to Matthew, I think that he will find in it, so far as regards the highest morals, a perfect standard of the Christian life: and this we do not rashly venture to promise, but gather it from the very words of the Lord Himself. For the sermon itself is brought to a close in such a way, that it is clear there are in it all the precepts which go to mold the life . . . He has sufficiently indicated, as I think, that these sayings which He uttered on the mount so perfectly guide the life of those who may be willing to live according to them, that they may justly be compared to one building upon a rock.” -Augustine of Hippo: “On the Sermon on the Mount,” as translated by William Findlay (1888), Book I, Chapter. 1
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” -Augustine of Hippo: as attributed in George Sweeting: “Who Said That?: More than 2,500 Usable Quotes and Illustrations” (1995)
“Love all men, even your enemies; love them, not because they are your brothers, but that they may become your brothers. Thus you will ever burn with fraternal love, both for him who is already your brother and for your enemy, that he may by loving become your brother . . . Even he that does not as yet believe in Christ . . . love him, and love him with fraternal love. He is not yet thy brother, but love him precisely that he may be thy brother.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Sermons,” Sermon 19:2 on the New Testament, page 436
“Love the sinner and hate the sin.” [translation to English]
“With love for mankind and hatred of sins [or vices].” [alternate translation to English]
“Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum.” [original Latin]
-Augustine of Hippo: “Opera Omnia,” Vol II. Col. 962, letter 211
“Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Sermons,” Sermon 19:2 on the New Testament
“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” -Augustine of Hippo
“What is love’s perfection? To love our enemies, and to love them to the end that they may be our brothers.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John” (414), ‘First Homily’ (as translated by John Burnaby (1955), page 266)
“What, then, does He say? ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.’ We read in Scripture concerning the striving after temporal things, ‘All is vanity and presumption of spirit’; but presumption of spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, inasmuch as the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written, ‘Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest.’ But, indeed, who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as if swelled out with wind? And hence also that expression of the apostle, ‘Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.’ And the poor in spirit are rightly understood here, as meaning the humble and God-fearing, i.e. those who have not the spirit which puffs up. Nor ought blessedness to begin at any other point whatever, if indeed it is to attain unto the highest wisdom; ‘but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’; for, on the other hand also, ‘pride’ is entitled ‘the beginning of all sin.’ Let the proud, therefore, seek after and love the kingdoms of the Earth; but ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” -Augustine of Hippo: “On the Sermon on the Mount,” as translated by William Findlay (1888), Book I, Ch. 1
Augustine of Hippo, also known as Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, was born as Aurelius Augustine on C.E. 13 November 354 in Thagaste, Numidia (now Souk Ahras, Algeria). He became a Christian theologian, a writer, and a bishop of Hippo in Roman Africa (396 - 430). He is known for his works, “The Confessions of Saint Augustine” and “The City of God.” Augustine of Hippo passed on at 75 years of age on C.E. 28 August 430 in Hippo Regius, Numidia (now Annaba, Algeria).
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“I have two planks for a bed, two stools, two cups and a basin. On my broken wall is a small card which says, ‘God hath chosen the weak things - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ It is true I have passed through fire.” -Gladys Aylward: as quoted in Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, compilers: “The Lion Christian Quotation Collection” (1997)
Gladys Aylward was born in 1902. Gladys Aylward passed on in 1970.
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“At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as special favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Do not be grieved if you do not enjoy popular favor; grieve rather that you do not live as well and carefully as befits a servant of God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small, but let the love of pure truth draw you to read. Do not inquire, “Who said this?” but pay attention to what is said.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 1, chapter 4: ‘On Prudence in Action’
“Do not let your peace depend on what people say of you, for whether they speak good or ill of you makes no difference to what you are. True peace and joy is to be found in Me alone. He who is neither anxious to please nor afraid to displease men enjoys true peace.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 3, chapter 28: ‘Against Slander’
“For such is the weakness of human nature, alas, that evil is often more readily believed and spoken of another than good. But perfect men do not easily believe every tale that is told them, for they know that man’s nature is prone to evil, and his words to deception.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book 1, chapter 4: ‘On Prudence in Action’
“He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.” - Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book.” -Thomas à Kempis
“If thou shalt remain faithful and zealous in labor, doubt not that God shall be faithful and bountiful in rewarding thee. It is thy duty to have a good hope that thou wilt attain the victory: but thou must not fall into security lest thou become slothful or lifted up.” -Thomas à Kempis
“If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?” -Thomas à Kempis
“In judging others, a man labors in vain; he often errs, and easily falls into sin; but in judging and examining himself, he always labors to good purpose.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“Jesus hath many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He hath many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He findeth many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to undergo anything for His sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of His loaves, but few that they may drink of the cup of His passion. Many are astonished at His miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities happen to them. Many praise Him and bless Him, so long as they receive any comforts from Him. But if Jesus hide Himself and withdraw a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too great dejection of mind.” -Thomas à Kempis
“Man proposes, but God disposes.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book i, Chapter 19
“Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), Book iii, Chapter 12
“Oh how swiftly the glory of the world passes away! If only the lives of these men had been as admirable as their learning, their study and reading would have been to good purpose! But how many in this world care little for the service of God, and perish in their vain learning. Because they choose to be great rather than humble, they perish in their own conceit.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), book i, chapter 3
“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.” -Thomas à Kempis
“What doth it profit thee to enter into deep discussions concerning the Holy Trinity, if thou lack humility, and be thus displeasing to the Trinity? For verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and upright; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God. I had rather feel contrition than be skillful in the definition thereof. If thou knewest the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what should this profit thee without the love and grace of God?” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“When Christ was in the world, He was despised by men; in the hour of need He was forsaken by acquaintances and left by friends to the depths of scorn. He was willing to suffer and to be despised; do you dare to complain of anything? He had enemies and defamers; do you want everyone to be your friend, your benefactor? How can your patience be rewarded if no adversity tests it? How can you be a friend of Christ if you are not willing to suffer any hardship? Suffer with Christ and for Christ if you wish to reign with Him. Had you but once entered into perfect communion with Jesus or tasted a little of His ardent love, you would care nothing at all for your own comfort or discomfort but would rejoice in the reproach you suffer; for love of Him makes a man despise himself.” -Thomas a Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418)
“Whoever loves much, does much.” -Thomas à Kempis: “Of the Imitation of Christ” (1418), I, xv
Thomas à Kempis was born in 1380. Thomas à Kempis passed on in 1471.
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“The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness.” -Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison was born on 1 May 1672 in Milston, Wiltshire, England, as the eldest son of Reverend Lancelot Addison. He became an essayist, a dramatist, a poet, a politician, and co-founder with Richard Steele of “The Spectator” (1711 - 1712) magazine. Joseph Addison passed on at 47 years of age on 17 June 1719 in London, England.
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“A Christian must not while away time. Get engaged in something.” -Sunday Adelaja
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“All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” -Archibald Alexander (1772 - 1851)
Archibald Alexander was born in 1772. Archibald Alexander passed on in 1851.
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“When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.” -Charles L. Allen
Charles Livingstone Allen was born on 24 June 1913 in Newborn, Georgia, United States of America. He became an ordained minister and a pastor, and held the title Reverend, in the United Methodist denomination of Christianity. Charles Livingstone Allen passed on at 92 years of age on 30 August 2005 in Houston, Texas, United States of America.
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“There is little good in filling churches with people who go out exactly the same as they came in; the call of the Church is not to fill churches but to fill Heaven.” -Father Andrew: “The Way of Victory” (1938)
Henry Ernest Hardy, also known as Father Andrew, was born on 7 January 1869 in Kasauli, India. He became an Anglican clergyman, a friar, a painter, and a poet. He is known as a co-founder of the Society of Divine Compassion, which worked for the poor in the East End of London, England. Henry Ernest Hardy passed on at 77 years of age on 31 March 1946 in the East End of London, England.
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“Nor do I seek to understand that I may believe but I believe that I may understand. For this too I believe that unless I first believe I shall not understand.” -Anselm of Canterbury
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“True peace consists in not separating ourselves from the will of God.” -Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy. He became a Roman Catholic Christian priest and friar, a philosopher, and a theologian. Thomas Aquinas passed on in 1274.
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“Since nothing we intend is ever faultless and nothing we attempt ever without error and nothing we achieve without some measure of finitude and fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness.” -David Augsburger
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“Already I had learned from thee that because a thing is eloquently expressed it should not be taken to be as necessarily true; nor because it is uttered with stammering lips should it be supposed false. A thing is not necessarily false because it is badly expressed, nor true because it is expressed magnificently.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Confessions” (about 397), V, 6
“God chooses us, not because we believe, but that we may believe.” -Augustine of Hippo
“If anyone will piously and soberly consider the sermon which our Lord Jesus spoke on the mount, as we read it in the Gospel according to Matthew, I think that he will find in it, so far as regards the highest morals, a perfect standard of the Christian life: and this we do not rashly venture to promise, but gather it from the very words of the Lord Himself. For the sermon itself is brought to a close in such a way, that it is clear there are in it all the precepts which go to mold the life . . . He has sufficiently indicated, as I think, that these sayings which He uttered on the mount so perfectly guide the life of those who may be willing to live according to them, that they may justly be compared to one building upon a rock.” -Augustine of Hippo: “On the Sermon on the Mount,” as translated by William Findlay (1888), Book I, Chapter. 1
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” -Augustine of Hippo: as attributed in George Sweeting: “Who Said That?: More than 2,500 Usable Quotes and Illustrations” (1995)
“Love all men, even your enemies; love them, not because they are your brothers, but that they may become your brothers. Thus you will ever burn with fraternal love, both for him who is already your brother and for your enemy, that he may by loving become your brother . . . Even he that does not as yet believe in Christ . . . love him, and love him with fraternal love. He is not yet thy brother, but love him precisely that he may be thy brother.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Sermons,” Sermon 19:2 on the New Testament, page 436
“Love the sinner and hate the sin.” [translation to English]
“With love for mankind and hatred of sins [or vices].” [alternate translation to English]
“Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum.” [original Latin]
-Augustine of Hippo: “Opera Omnia,” Vol II. Col. 962, letter 211
“Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Sermons,” Sermon 19:2 on the New Testament
“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” -Augustine of Hippo
“What is love’s perfection? To love our enemies, and to love them to the end that they may be our brothers.” -Augustine of Hippo: “Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John” (414), ‘First Homily’ (as translated by John Burnaby (1955), page 266)
“What, then, does He say? ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.’ We read in Scripture concerning the striving after temporal things, ‘All is vanity and presumption of spirit’; but presumption of spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, inasmuch as the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written, ‘Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest.’ But, indeed, who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as if swelled out with wind? And hence also that expression of the apostle, ‘Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.’ And the poor in spirit are rightly understood here, as meaning the humble and God-fearing, i.e. those who have not the spirit which puffs up. Nor ought blessedness to begin at any other point whatever, if indeed it is to attain unto the highest wisdom; ‘but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’; for, on the other hand also, ‘pride’ is entitled ‘the beginning of all sin.’ Let the proud, therefore, seek after and love the kingdoms of the Earth; but ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” -Augustine of Hippo: “On the Sermon on the Mount,” as translated by William Findlay (1888), Book I, Ch. 1
Augustine of Hippo, also known as Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, was born as Aurelius Augustine on C.E. 13 November 354 in Thagaste, Numidia (now Souk Ahras, Algeria). He became a Christian theologian, a writer, and a bishop of Hippo in Roman Africa (396 - 430). He is known for his works, “The Confessions of Saint Augustine” and “The City of God.” Augustine of Hippo passed on at 75 years of age on C.E. 28 August 430 in Hippo Regius, Numidia (now Annaba, Algeria).
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“I have two planks for a bed, two stools, two cups and a basin. On my broken wall is a small card which says, ‘God hath chosen the weak things - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ It is true I have passed through fire.” -Gladys Aylward: as quoted in Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, compilers: “The Lion Christian Quotation Collection” (1997)
Gladys Aylward was born in 1902. Gladys Aylward passed on in 1970.
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