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The Confessions of St. Augustin In Thirteen Books

Chapter XXV.--He Calls on God to Enlighten His Mind.

32. And I confess unto Thee, O Lord, that I am as yet ignorant as to what time is, and again I confess unto Thee, O Lord, that I know that I speak these things in time, and that I have already long spoken of time, and that very "long" is not long save by the stay of time. How, then, know I this, when I know not what time is? Or is it, perchance, that I know not in what wise I may express what I know? Alas for me, that I do not at least know the extent of my own ignorance! Behold, O my God, before Thee I lie not. As I speak, so is my heart. Thou shalt light my candle; Thou, O Lord my God, wilt enlighten my darkness. ¹

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Confessiones (PL)

CAPUT XXV. Rursus Deum interpellat.

32. Et confiteor tibi, Domine, ignorare me adhuc quid sit tempus; et rursus confiteor tibi, Domine, scire me in tempore ista dicere, et diu me jam loqui de tempore, atque ipsum diu non esse diu nisi mora temporis. Quomodo igitur hoc scio, quando quid sit tempus nescio? An forte nescio quemadmodum dicam quod scio? Hei mihi qui nescio saltem quid nesciam! Ecce, Deus meus, coram te, quia non mentior; sicut loquor, ita est cor meum. Tu illuminabis lucernam meam, Domine Deus meus, illuminabis tenebras meas ¹.