augustine narrator

Relationships

• learnedLatin Language

  description

  The narrator learned the Latin language by observation and without coercion during his infancy.

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  as an infant) I knew no Latin; but this I learned without fear or suffering, by mere observation, amid the caresses of my nursery

• learned_willinglyGrecian Fable

  description

  Despite its vileness, the narrator willingly learned content like Grecian fables with great delight in his youth.

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  all this unhappily I learnt willingly with great delight, and for this was pronounced a hopeful boy.

• was_set_task_to_speakJuno

  description

  The narrator, as a boy, was assigned the task of declaiming the words of Juno, portraying her rage and mourning.

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  For a task was set me, troublesome enough to my soul, upon terms of praise or shame, and fear of stripes, to speak the words of Juno, as she raged and mourned that she could not

• was_forced_intoPoetic Fictions

  description

  The narrator felt compelled to engage with and even emulate the 'astray' narratives of poetic fictions in his education.

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  but we were forced to go astray in the footsteps of these poetic fictions, and to say in prose much what he expressed in verse.

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  2026-03-02T21:55:21.734Z

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• experiencedLust

  description

  In his sixteenth year, Augustine found himself wholly consumed by the 'madness of lust,' which took rule over him.

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  the madness of lust (to which human shamelessness giveth free licence, though unlicensed by Thy laws) took the rule over me, and I resigned myself wholly to it

• studiedGrammar and Rhetoric

  description

  Augustine journeyed to Madaura to learn grammar and rhetoric, subjects important for becoming a persuasive orator.

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  after my return from Madaura (a neighbour city, whither I had journeyed to learn grammar and rhetoric

• planned_to_study_inCarthage

  description

  Preparations were being made for Augustine to journey to Carthage for further studies, funded by his father.

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  expenses for a further journey to Carthage were being provided for me

• committedTheft

  description

  Augustine confesses to having lusted to thieve and doing so, not out of need, but from a 'cloyedness of well-doing.'

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  Yet I lusted to thieve, and did it, compelled by no hunger, nor poverty, but through a cloyedness of well-doing, and a pamperedness of iniquity

• associated_withAugustine's Companions (Youth)

  description

  Augustine walked with a group of 'lewd young fellows' who were his companions in acts of 'flagitiousness.'

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  Behold with what companions I walked the streets of Babylon

• disregardedMother's Warnings (against fornication)

  description

  Augustine perceived his mother's earnest warnings against fornication as 'womanish advices' and chose to disregard them.

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  These seemed to me womanish advices, which I should blush to obey

• is_subject_toGod's Law

  description

  Augustine acknowledges that his actions are judged by God's law, which is also written in the hearts of men.

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  Theft is punished by Thy law, O Lord, and the law written in the hearts of men, which iniquity itself effaces not

• committedGratuitously Evil acts

  description

  Augustine describes his actions, particularly the theft, as being 'gratuitously evil,' meaning he had no external temptation but the evil itself.

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  that I should be gratuitously evil, having no temptation to ill, but the ill itself

• extracted_fromSource

  extracted_at

  2026-03-02T21:55:26.199Z

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• believes_thatGod

  description

  The narrator is firmly persuaded that God, the true God, is undefilable, unalterable, and immutable.

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  firmly persuaded that Thou our Lord the true God, who madest not only our souls, but our bodies, and not only our souls and bodies, but all beings, and all things, wert undefilable and unalterable, and in no degree mutable

• seeksEvil

  description

  The narrator actively endeavors to understand the cause and origin of evil, as a central philosophical problem.

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  understood I not, clearly and without difficulty, the cause of evil. And yet whatever it were, I perceived it was in such wise to be sought out, as should not constrain me to believe the immutable God to be mutable, lest I should become that evil I was seeking out

• shrinks_fromThose who believe God is corruptible

  description

  The narrator expresses a strong aversion to those who hold the belief that God's substance could suffer ill.

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  from whom I shrunk with my whole heart

• hasFree-will

  description

  The narrator recognizes that he possesses a will, acknowledging his own agency in willing or nilling things.

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  I knew as well that I had a will, as that I lived

• recognizes_as_cause_ofSin

  description

  The narrator nearly perceives that his own will is the cause of his sin.

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  there was the cause of my sin

• extracted_fromSource

  extracted_at

  2026-03-02T21:55:40.730Z

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• believedHoly Writ

  description

  Augustine was persuaded to believe in the divine authority of the Holy Writ.

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  Thou didst persuade me, that not they who believed Thy Books

• believed_in_care_ofGod

  description

  Augustine consistently believed that God existed and had a personal care for humanity.

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  I ever believed both that Thou wert, and hadst a care of us

• was_preparing_to_recitePanegyric of the Emperor

  description

  Augustine was in the midst of preparing a laudatory speech for the Emperor, which he knew would involve lying.

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  when I was preparing to recite a panegyric of the Emperor

• observedPoor Beggar

  description

  Augustine saw a joyful poor beggar while walking through the streets of Milan, which prompted his reflection on happiness.

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  I observed a poor beggar, then, I suppose, with a full belly, joking and joyous

• bemoaned_withAlypius

  description

  Augustine frequently discussed his personal struggles and observations with his close friend Alypius.

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  most familiarly did I speak thereof with Alypius

• bemoaned_withNebridius

  description

  Augustine frequently discussed his personal struggles and observations with his friend Nebridius.

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  did I speak thereof with Alypius and Nebridius

• professed_rhetoric_inCarthage

  description

  Augustine was teaching rhetoric in Carthage, where he also ran a public school.

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  and I, professing rhetoric there

• hadAugustine's Public School

  description

  Augustine operated a public school in Carthage where he taught rhetoric.

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  had a public school

• grieved_overAlypius's doting on the Circus

  description

  Augustine was deeply saddened and concerned by Alypius's intense attachment to the Circus, seeing it as a waste of his potential.

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  was deeply grieved that he seemed likely, nay, or had thrown away so great promise

• extracted_fromSource

  extracted_at

  2026-03-02T21:55:41.801Z

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