I’ve often thought of a saying that I’d heard was attributed to Augustine. I looked for it in vain, not realizing that it was originally in latin:
Dilige, et quod vis fac
Recently I came across a larger translated quote from one of his Homily. I don’t quite know exactly what a homily is, except that it seems to be a kind of sermon from way back then of the early church.
“The deeds of men are only discerned by the root of charity. For many things may be done that have a good appearance, and yet proceed not from the root of charity. For thorns also have flowers: some actions truly seem rough, seem savage; howbeit they are done for discipline at the bidding of charity. Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.” (Homily VII, paragraph 8)
