How we cite our quotes: (Book.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
For it is sheer vanity for a man to profess his learning, even if it is well founded, whereas it is his duty to you, O God, to confess his sins. (V.5.1)
Augustine hasn't exactly been innocent of professing his learning, even within the Confessions. But knowledge isn't supposed to take precedence over worship. In fact, worship isn't even an option: it's a duty, to use Augustine's term. Plus, by "worship," Augustine really means to confess, which is, like, the exact opposite of bragging. Though maybe it could be interpreted as humblebragging …
Quote #8
It flattered my pride to think that I incurred no guilt and, when I did wrong, not to confess it so that you might bring healing to a soul that had sinned against you. (V.10.2)
Augustine is talking about when he's still with the Manichees. They believe that people are not responsible for the evil they do because evil lies in the matter people are made of. We think this is certainly a convenient scapegoat for sinning. But when you know that you're going to have to answer for your sins, you approach sin differently; and that's exactly why Augustine is reluctant to change his sinnin' ways.
Quote #9
But when I rose in pride against you and made onslaught against my Lord, proud of my strong sinews, even those lower things became my masters and oppressed me, and nowhere could I find respite or time to draw breath. (VII.7.2)
Ironic, isn't it? When you try to rise up against the Lord, the lowest of low things are suddenly able to oppress you. That's the nature of pride and other sins. In this earthly world, they seem to do one thing, but in the spiritual world, they do quite the opposite.