Confessions
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~110,000 words · 516 passages
Cite this work
- APAAugustine. (n.d.). The Confessions of St. Augustine [Confessions]. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/augustine/the-confessions-of-st-augustine
- MLAAugustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine [Confessions]. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/augustine/the-confessions-of-st-augustine.
- ChicagoAugustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine [Confessions]. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/augustine/the-confessions-of-st-augustine.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
Augustine's account of his own life, told to God: his youth in Carthage, the years of doubt, the conversion in a Milan garden, and the questions of what time is and what memory is.
Context and history
Written around 397-400, when Augustine was already bishop of Hippo in Roman Africa. It is the first great introspective book of Western literature: no one before had examined their own inner life at this depth, or written it down addressing God directly. The conversion it recounts — the summer of 386, a child's voice singing 'take up and read' — is among the most influential scenes ever written, and the whole genre of modern autobiography owes it its existence.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
What art Thou then, my God? what, but the Lord God? For who is Lord but the Lord? or who is God save our God? Most highest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present; most beautiful, yet most strong, stable, yet incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet nothing lacking; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. Thou lovest, without passion; art jealous, without anxiety; repentest, yet grievest not; art angry, yet serene; changest Thy works, Thy purpose unchanged; receivest again what Thou findest, yet didst never lose; never in need, yet rejoicing in gains; never covetous, yet exacting usury. Thou receivest over and above, that Thou mayest owe; and who hath aught that is not Thine? Thou payest debts, owing nothing; remittest debts, losing nothing. And what had I now said, my God, my life, my holy joy? or what saith any man when he speaks of Thee? Yet woe to him that speaketh not, since mute are even the most eloquent. Oh! that I might repose on Thee! Oh! that Thou wouldest enter into my heart, and inebriate it, that I may forget my ills, and embrace Thee, my sole good! What art Thou to me? In Thy pity, teach me to utter it. Or what am I to Thee that Thou demandest my love, and, if I give it not, art wroth with me, and threatenest me with grievous woes? Is it then a slight woe to love Thee not? Oh! for Thy mercies' sake, tell me, O Lord my God, what Thou art unto me. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. So speak, that I may hear. Behold, Lord, my heart is before Thee; open Thou the ears thereof, and say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. After this voice let me haste, and take hold on Thee. Hide not Thy face from me.…