Saint Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions of St. Augustine: Autobiography of a Christian Saint and Early Church Father

For the rejection of heretics makes the tenets of Thy Church and sound doctrine to stand out more clearly. For there must also be heresies, that the approved may be made manifest among the weak.

Our enemies can often correct our faults by their disparagement, just ad the flattery of friends can corrupt us.

But you do not search out our faults ruthlessly, and because of this we hope and believe that one day we shall find a place with you. Yet if any man makes a list of his deserts, what would it be but a list of your gifts?

The man who serves you best is the one who is less intent on hearing from you what he wills to hear from you than on shaping his will according to what he hears from you.

I deserted truth for worldly things and the night closed over me, but even then, even in my darkness, I continued to love you, o Truth. I wandered away, but I remembered you. I heard your voice at my back, calling me to…

For if we play shepherd to the wind, we find pasture for the devils, because by straying from the truth we give them food for laughter and fill their cup of pleasure.