Augustine Quote by Saint Augustine
![“Though he avoided outright endorsement of the view, fifth-century Church Father Saint Augustine was clearly familiar with the theory of the spherical earth: "They [those who believe that "there are men on the other side of the earth"] fail to observe that even if the world is held to be global or…” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e3/saint-augustine-328_augustine_though-he-avoided-outright-endorsement-o_2467712.jpg)
“Though he avoided outright endorsement of the view, fifth-century Church Father Saint Augustine was clearly familiar with the theory of the spherical earth: "They [those who believe that "there are men on the other side of the earth"] fail to observe that even if the world is held to be global or rounded in shape, or if some process of reasoning should prove this to be the case, it would still not necessarily follow that the land on the opposite side is not covered by masses of water."”
About This Quote
Source Treat: City of God, Book 13, 5th century
Augustine acknowledges the idea of a spherical Earth but cautions that this does not guarantee land on the opposite side, as water may dominate.
In simple terms: Spherical Earth doesn’t ensure opposite land; water may cover it.
Key Takeaway
Consider the limits of reasoning about geography.
Themes
theology
geography
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- historical debate
- educational curricula
- scientific illustration
Key Concepts
spherical Earth
reasoning limits
Questions to Reflect On
- Does geometry alone prove land distribution?
- How do we balance theory with observation?
A Different Perspective
Assumes water coverage without empirical evidence.