“St. Augustine! well hast thou said,
That of our vices we can frame
A ladder, if we will but tread
Beneath our feet each deed of shame!”

—  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Ladder of St. Augustine, st. 1 (1858).

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "St. Augustine! well hast thou said, That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet e…" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow photo
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow202
American poet 1807–1882

Related quotes

Thomas Bradwardine photo

“St. Augustine confesses that he himself had been formerly in a similar mistake. 'I was once,' says he, 'a Pelagian in my principles; I thought that faith towards God was not the gift of God, but that we procured it by our own powers, and that then, through the use of it, we obtain the gifts of God; I never supposed that the preventing grace of God was the proper cause of our faith, till my mind was struck in a particular manner by the apostle's argument and testimony: What hast thou that thou hast not received, and if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?”

Thomas Bradwardine (1300–1349) Theologian; Archbishop of Canterbury

In this whole business I follow the steps of Augustine.
De causa Dei contra Pelagium

Aurelius Augustinus photo

“We make a ladder of our vices, if we trample those same vices underfoot.”

Aurelius Augustinus (354–430) early Christian theologian and philosopher

3
Sermons

“Wilt thou pursue," she said, "or submit to aught that is shameful, when thou hast so many means of death and quick escape from a deed so wicked?”
<nowiki>'</nowiki>Tune sequeris' ait 'quidquam aut patiere pudendum cum tibi tot mortes scelerisque brevissima tanti effugia?

Gaius Valerius Flaccus book Argonautica

Source: Argonautica, Book VII, Lines 331–333

Henry Abbey photo

“For, looking down the ladder of our deeds”

Henry Abbey Faciebat

Faciebat

Henry Hart Milman photo

“Thou our throbbing flesh hast worn;
Thou our mortal griefs hast borne;
Thou hast shed the human tear;
Jesus, Son of Mary, hear!”

Henry Hart Milman (1791–1868) English historian and churchman

Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 94.

“Able to save to the uttermost, "Lord to whom shall we go; Thou hast the words of eternal life?" Thou who hast abolished death, upon whom else shall we suspend our immortality?”

Henry Melvill (1798–1871) British academic

Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 231.

William Ellery Channing photo

“Compassionate Saviour! We welcome Thee to our world, We welcome Thee to our hearts. We bless Thee for the Divine goodness Thou hast brought from heaven; for the souls Thou hast warmed with love to man, and lifted up in love to God; for the efforts of divine philanthropy which Thou hast inspired; and for that hope of a pure celestial life, through which Thy disciples triumph over death.”

William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) United States Unitarian clergyman

Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 85

Harriet Beecher Stowe photo

“Between the mysteries of death and life
Thou standest, loving, guiding,— not explaining;
We ask, and Thou art silent,— yet we gaze,
And our charmed hearts forget their drear complaining;
No crushing fate, no stony destiny!
Thou Lamb that hast been slain, we rest in Thee.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) Abolitionist, author

"Life's Mystery", reported in Charlotte Fiske Rogé, The Cambridge Book of Poetry and Song (1832), p. 544.

George Eliot photo

“Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds …”

George Eliot book Adam Bede

Source: Adam Bede (1859)
Context: Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds...

Julian of Norwich photo

“This is the understanding of this word: — That it shall be done for me, meaneth that it shall be done for the general Man: that is to say, all that shall be saved. It shall be worshipful and marvellous and plenteous, and God Himself shall do it; and this shall be the highest joy that may be, to behold the deed that God Himself shall do, and man shall do right nought but sin. Then signifieth our Lord God thus, as if He said: Behold and see! Here hast thou matter of meekness, here hast thou matter of love, here hast thou matter to make nought of thyself, here hast thou matter to enjoy in me; — and, for my love, enjoy in me: for of all things, therewith mightest thou please me most.”

Julian of Norwich (1342–1416) English theologian and anchoress

The Thirteenth Revelation, Chapter 36

Related topics