Adam and eve Quote by Augustine of Hippo
““...The Devil would not have begun by an open and obvious sin to tempt man into doing something which God had forbidden, had not man already begun to seek satisfaction in himself and, consequently, to take pleasure in the words: 'You shall be as Gods.' The promise of these words, however, would much more truly have come to pass if, by obedience, Adam and Eve had kept close to the ultimate and true Source of their being and had not, by pride imagined that they were themselves the source of their being. For, created gods are gods not in virtue of their own being but by a participation in the being of the true God. For, whoever seeks to be more than he is becomes less, and while he aspires to be self-sufficing he retires from Him who is truly sufficient for him.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Confessions, Augustine of Hippo, 397 AD
Human pride leads to seeking self‑sufficiency, separating from divine source, causing loss of true being.
In simple terms: Pride makes us think we are self‑sufficient, but we lose true purpose.
Key Takeaway
Recognize dependence on the divine source.
Themes
pride
spirituality
human nature
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- religious study
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy
self‑identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pride affect your sense of purpose?
- What does true sufficiency mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on divine dependence can diminish human agency.
![“The earthly [city] has made for herself, according to her heart's desire, false gods out of any sources at all, even out of human beings, that she might adore them with sacrifices. The heavenly one, on the other hand, living like a wayfarer in this world, makes no false gods for herself. On the…” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/106/augustine-of-hippo-2589_true-god_the-earthly-city-has-made-for-herself-ac_1593816.jpg)
![“Time takes no holiday. It does not roll idly by, but through our senses works its own wonders in the mind. Time came and went from one day to the next; in its coming and its passing it brought me other hopes and other memories. [quoted in Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, p. 54]” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c2/augustine-of-hippo-2589_change_time-takes-no-holiday-it-does-not-roll-i_22609.jpg)
