There they found a small book in which was written the life of Antony. One of them began to read it, marveled at it, was inflamed by it. While we was actually reading he had begun to think how he might embrace such a life, and give up his worldly employment to serve You alone. For the two men were both state officials. Suddenly the man who was doing the reading was filled with a love of holiness and angry at himself with righteous shame. He looked at his friend and said to him: “Tell me, please, what is the goal of our ambition in all these labours of ours? What are we aiming at? What is our motive in being in public service? Have we any higher hope at court than to be friends of the Emperor? And at that level,. is not everything uncertain and full of perils? And how many perils must we meet on the way to this greater peril? And how long before we are there?
St. Augustine, Confessions, translated by F.J. Sheed, Book Eight, Chapter VI.
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