Values Quotes – Saint Augustine on Delight

Todays quote is from Saint Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, a father of the church who was active 400 years after Christ. His writings were very influential in the development of Western Christianity.

An insightful quote from Augustine is:
“The single desire that dominated my search for delight was simply to love and to be loved.”

There is much wisdom here when pondering the value of delight.

As a differentiating value, Delight means greatly pleasing or entertaining; to enchant; or bringing joy.

I believe almost everyone wants to be happy and joyful. Unfortunately, many never seem to find true delight. In America especially, so much attention is paid to entertaining ourselves or looking to be entertained. Many look for joy in things or even fleeting experiences, but do not find it.

However, Augustine points to an important secret. Real delight is found in love. To simply love and be loved. As Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “..abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

A surprising truth is that the more you freely love others, the more delight you will experience yourself!

 

Today’s value was selected from the Fun-Recreation” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Values.