Quotes from The Confessions of St. Augustine

I'm currently reading The Confessions of St. Augustine. I'm moved by his candid and eloquent re-telling of his journey toward Christ. My theology textbook describes Augustine as "the greatest Latin theologian and the towering figure of Christendom's first 750 years." Here are some excerpts that have struck me. Granted, I'm not giving their context, but I think that for the most part they're understandable.

"If you find physical pleasure in earthly experiences, use the occasion to praise God for these gifts. Turn your love not on the pleasures but toward their Maker."

"Proclaim this message, that sinners can only be carried to the Father after they go down into the valley of tears. You do not speak out of God's Spirit if you feel such a fire of sympathy for the lost that you do not tell them the truth."

"From You I now learned that nothing is any more true because it is eloquent. Nor is anything any more false because it is explained through inelegant lips."

"I did not yet hold to my Lord Jesus Christ. I had been humbled, but I could not yet find my way to the Humble. Nor could I yet discern what lessons this lowly teacher would give. Your word, the eternal Truth, far above the higher parts of Your Creation, raises up the meek. He came into this lower world to build for Himself a lowly habitation of human clay. He was abased to find such as would be subdued and bring them over to Himself. He heals their swelling, and nurtures their love so that they might go no farther in self-confidence. Rather He seeks those who will become weak, seeing before their feet the Divinity who became weak by taking our coats of skin. He was wearied that the weary might cast themselves down upon Him and be lifted up in His rising."