--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What therefore have I to do with men that…" description: "\"“What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as if it were they who would cure all that is evil in me?9 Men are a race c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg" --- # What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear… ![“What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as if it were they who would cure all that is evil in me?9 Men are a race curious to know of other men’s lives, but slothful to correct their own.” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg) > ““What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as if it were they who would cure all that is evil in me?9 Men are a race curious to know of other men’s lives, but slothful to correct their own.”” [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions why others should hear his confessions when they cannot cure his inner evil; people are curious about others but lazy about self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** People are curious about others but neglect self‑improvement. Key Takeaway Focus on correcting yourself before judging others. Themes humility self‑reflection curiosity Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - spiritual counseling - self‑help groups - educational workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to improve yourself? - How do you balance sharing and self‑growth? A Different Perspective Self‑critique can become self‑condemnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) [Evil Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-men/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you actually hear confessions in your church, Father, actual spoken confessions? For that matter, does any priest anymore, at least as the movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desales-harrison/do-you-actually-hear-confessions-in-your-church-father-actual-spoken/) [DeSales Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desales-harrison/) > [“The blame of course belonged to Clyde, who just was not much given to talk. 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I have to say he has far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/tulse-luper-who-without-too-many-confessions-in-a-sense-is-a-fictive/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [“Fantastic,” I said without an ounce of enthusiasm. “I’m just one more embarrassing confession away from taking over the world.” --Spencer Nye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-letts/fantastic-i-said-without-an-ounce-of-enthusiasm-i-m-just-one-more/) Jason Letts > [“He’s a steamroller in my life and I like to be laid out flat. I like his hands on my chest, pushing me down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-a-lord/he-s-a-steamroller-in-my-life-and-i-like-to-be-laid-out-flat-i-like/) Laura A. Lord > [“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. 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Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-have-no-interest-in-writing-confessions-in-deliberately-baring/) [Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/) > [“Some disquieting confessions must be made in printing at last the play of Peter Pan; among them this, that I have no recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/some-disquieting-confessions-must-be-made-in-printing-at-last-the/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) ## More by Augustine of Hippo > [“We are inflamed, by Thy Gift we are kindled; and are carried upwards; we glow inwardly, and go forwards. We ascend Thy ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/we-are-inflamed-by-thy-gift-we-are-kindled-and-are-carried-upwards-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith seeks, understanding finds. This is why the prophet says, ‘Unless you believe, you will not understand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-seeks-understanding-finds-this-is-why-the-prophet-says-unless/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Time takes no holiday. It does not roll idly by, but through our senses works its own wonders in the mind. 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I now commit myself wholly to His care and clemency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/let-him-do-what-pleases-him-let-him-disclose-himself-when-it-pleases/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“and even now we labor in our residual gloom, until in your only Son we become your righteousness; for that righteousness is like God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-even-now-we-labor-in-our-residual-gloom-until-in-your-only-son-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Thus, every entity, even if it is a defective one, in so far as it is an entity, is good. In so far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/thus-every-entity-even-if-it-is-a-defective-one-in-so-far-as-it-is-an/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“But unscrupulous ambition has nothing to work upon, save in a nation corrupted by avarice and luxury. Moreover, a people becomes avaricious and luxurious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/but-unscrupulous-ambition-has-nothing-to-work-upon-save-in-a-nation/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of the faith is to see what we believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-is-to-believe-what-we-do-not-see-and-the-reward-of-the-faith-is/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/for-instantly-as-the-sentence-ended-there-was-infused-in-my-heart/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“And yet, will we ever come to an end of discussion and talk if we think we must always reply to replies? For replies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-yet-will-we-ever-come-to-an-end-of-discussion-and-talk-if-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“If, on the contrary, they hear from you about themselves, they will be in no position to say, “The Lord is lying.” Is hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/if-on-the-contrary-they-hear-from-you-about-themselves-they-will-be/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) [Explore all 153 Augustine of Hippo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## More Confessions quotes > [“Some disquieting confessions must be made in printing at last the play of Peter Pan; among them this, that I have no recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/some-disquieting-confessions-must-be-made-in-printing-at-last-the/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-have-no-interest-in-writing-confessions-in-deliberately-baring/) [Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/) > [“When it comes to the crunch, coming out is the greatest of all confessions. Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [“..wer am meisten genießt, betet am meisten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/wer-am-meisten-genie-t-betet-am-meisten/) [Georg Büchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [Always our wars have been our confessions of weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/always-our-wars-have-been-our-confessions-of-weakness/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [I have heard thousands of confessions, but never one of covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-xavier/i-have-heard-thousands-of-confessions-but-never-one-of-covetousness/) [Francis Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-xavier/) > [“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/it-s-not-the-right-word-eva-he-pressed-on-stubbornly-his-lips-at-my/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“He’s a steamroller in my life and I like to be laid out flat. I like his hands on my chest, pushing me down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-a-lord/he-s-a-steamroller-in-my-life-and-i-like-to-be-laid-out-flat-i-like/) Laura A. Lord > [“Fantastic,” I said without an ounce of enthusiasm. “I’m just one more embarrassing confession away from taking over the world.” --Spencer Nye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-letts/fantastic-i-said-without-an-ounce-of-enthusiasm-i-m-just-one-more/) Jason Letts > [Tulse Luper, who without too many confessions, in a sense, is a fictive version of me. I have to say he has far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/tulse-luper-who-without-too-many-confessions-in-a-sense-is-a-fictive/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [You're just a recent caught up sprung confessional ex. \*DONE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-just-a-recent-caught-up-sprung-confessional-ex-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Uncalled for excuses are practical confessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/uncalled-for-excuses-are-practical-confessions/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [“...and I decide to stop inwardly composing the feminist world court's prosecutorial summation to the jury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-viera-rigler/and-i-decide-to-stop-inwardly-composing-the-feminist-world-court-s/) [Laurie Viera Rigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-viera-rigler/) > [I love Usher's 'Confessions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-love-usher-s-confessions/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [“You okay?” she asks. “I think so. 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The flame-orange shimmer of hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-martinez/you-okay-she-asks-i-think-so-you-yeah-the-courthouse-looks-like-it-s/) [Jessica Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-martinez/) [Browse all 99 Confessions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as if it were they who would cure all that is evil in me?9 Men are a race curious to know of other men’s lives, but slothful to correct their own.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Augustine of Hippo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-that-they-should-hear-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confessions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-that-they-should-hear-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/augustine-of-hippo-2589_quote_what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-tha_1674156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What therefore have I to do with men that they should hear my confessions, as if it were they who would cure…” — Augustine of Hippo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Augustine of Hippo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What therefore have I to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-that-they-should-hear-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/what-therefore-have-i-to-do-with-men-that-they-should-hear-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```