Nebridius
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All letters (22)
1. Whether I am to regard it as the effect of what I may call your flattering language, or whether the thing be really so, is a point which I am unable to decide. For the impression was sudden, and I am not yet resolved how far it deserves to be believed.
1. It is very wonderful how completely I was taken by surprise, when, on searching to discover which of your letters still remained unanswered, I found only one which held me as your debtor — that, namely, in which you request me to tell you how far in this my leisure, which you suppose to be great, and which you desire to share with me, I am ma...
Is it true, my beloved Augustine, that you are spending your strength and patience on the affairs of your fellow citizens (in Thagaste), and that the leisure from distractions which you so earnestly desired is still withheld from you? Who, I would like to know, are the men who thus take advantage of your good nature, and trespass on your time? I...
1. Your letters I have great pleasure in keeping as carefully as my own eyes. For they are great, not indeed in length, but in the greatness of the subjects discussed in them, and in the great ability with which the truth in regard to these subjects is demonstrated.
Chapter 1. Memory may be exercised independently of such images as are presented by the imagination. 1.
1. As I am in haste to come to the subject of my letter, I dispense with any preface or introduction. When at any time it pleases higher (by which I mean heavenly) powers to reveal anything to us by dreams in our sleep, how is this done, my dear Augustine, or what is the method which they use?
1. Although you know my mind well, you are perhaps not aware how much I long to enjoy your society. This great blessing, however, God will some day bestow on me.
1. No question of yours ever kept me so disturbed while reflecting upon it, as the remark which I read in your last letter, in which you chide me for being indifferent as to making arrangements by which it may be possible for us to live together. A grave charge, and one which, were it not unfounded, would be most perilous.
1. When the question, which has long been brought before me by you with something even of friendly chiding, as to the way in which we might live together, was seriously disturbing my mind, and I had resolved to write to you, and to beg an answer from you bearing exclusively on this subject, and to employ my pen on no other theme pertaining to ou...
1. I do not feel pleasure in writing of the subjects which I was wont to discuss; I am not at liberty to write of new themes. I see that the one would not suit you, and that for the other I have no leisure.
1. I have preferred to reply to your last letter, not because I undervalued your earlier questions, or enjoyed them less, but because in answering you I undertake a greater task than you think. For although you enjoined me to send you a superlatively long letter, I have not so much leisure as you imagine, and as you know I have always wished to...
Whether I should take this as the effect of your flattering words, or whether the thing is really so, I cannot...
I was completely taken by surprise when I searched through your letters to find which ones still needed answers, and...
Is it true, my dear Augustine, that you are spending your energy and patience on the business of your fellow...
I treasure your letters as carefully as I treasure my own eyes.
Chapter 1: Memory can operate independently of mental images.
I am in a hurry to get to the subject of my letter, so I will skip any preamble.
Though you know my mind well, you may not realize how much I long for your company.
No question of yours has ever disturbed me as deeply, while I reflected on it, as the complaint in your last letter...
That question you've been putting to me for so long now — with what I can only call affectionate nagging — about how...
I take no pleasure in writing about the subjects I used to discuss, and I am not free to take up new themes.
I have chosen to answer your most recent letter first -- not because I value your earlier questions any less or find...