Saint Augustine Quotes

I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God's will.

Rules are made for people who aren't willing to make up their own.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves

Certainly there is no contending against the will of God, but still there is some difficulty in ascertaining it, and applying it, to particular cases.

I couldn't follow nobody's rules.

Sooner or later, man has always had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God.

The tragedy of life and of the world is not that men do not know God; the tragedy is that, knowing Him, they still insist on going their own way.

Religion is run by thought police. 'Obey. Listen. This is what you do. Don't ask questions. Go die for your country.' The spirituality says, 'Okay, you can die for your country, but know what you're doing while you're doing it.'

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'

You see, rebellion, and the disobedience it causes, keeps us from having the power of God that's available to us as Christians.

Avoid independent thinking! How is such independent thinking manifest? A common way is by questioning the council that is provided by God’s visible organization

It is not God that is worshipped but the group or authority that claims to speak in His name. Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation of integrity.

It is God’s will that the United States not be a nation of followers.

It is not befitting for a believing man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision

Every true thinker for himself is so far like a monarch; he is absolute, and recognizes nobody above him. His judgments, like the decrees of a monarch, spring from his own sovereign power and proceed directly from himself. He takes as little notice of authority as a monarch does of a command; nothing is valid unless he has himself authorized it. On the other hand, those of vulgar minds, who are swayed by all kinds of current opinions, authorities, and prejudices, are like the people which in silence obey the law and commands.

Most people resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers

All the better; they do not force me to do anything that I would not have done of my own accord if I did not dread scandal. But since they want it that way, I enter gladly on the path that is opened to me, with the consolation that my departure will be more innocent than was the exodus of the early Hebrews from Egypt.

I've never been able to accept any kind of discipline.

I don't like rules.

I've never really been a rebellious teen.

I don't take well to rules.

One of the guiding beliefs of our consuming age is that we are all free and independent individuals. That we can choose to do pretty much what we want, and if we can't, then it's bad. But at the same time, co-existing alongside this, there is a completely different, parallel universe where we all seem meekly to do what those in power tell us to do.

Some people's lives would drastically change if they would obey God as strictly as they obey their doctors.

There are good reasons for being obedient, but being unable to be disobedient is not one of the best reasons.

There is one thing in the world more wicked than the desire to command, and that is the will to obey.