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fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name
of a kingdom, because the reality is now manifestly conferred on it, not by the removal of
covetousness, but by the addition of impunity. Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was
given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the
man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, “What
thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber,
whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor.”

Book 11 Chap.29
The Heavenly City outshines Rome, beyond comparison. There, instead of victory, is truth; instead
of high rank, holiness; instead of peace, felicity; instead of life, eternity.

Book 14 Chap. 28.--Of The Nature Of The Two Cities, The Earthly And The Heavenly.
Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the
contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a
word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For the one seeks glory from men; but the greatest
glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience. The one lifts up its head in its own glory; the
other says to its God, "Thou art my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." In the one, the princes
and the nations it subdues are ruled by the love of ruling; in the other, the princes and the subjects
serve one another in love, the latter obeying, while the former take thought for all. The one
delights in its own strength, represented in the persons of its rulers; the other says to its God, "I will
love Thee, O Lord, my strength." And therefore the wise men of the one city, living according to
man, have sought for profit to their own bodies or souls, or both, and those who have known God
"glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened; professing themselves to be wise,"--that is, glorying in their own
wisdom, and being possessed by pride,--"they became fools, and changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts,
and creeping things." For they were either leaders or followers of the people in adoring images,
"and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." But in
the other city there is no human wisdom, but only godliness, which offers due worship to the true
God, and looks for its reward in the society of the saints, of holy angels as well as holy men, "that
God may be all in all."

Book 15. CHAP. 4.--Of The Conflict And Peace Of The Earthly City.
But the earthly city, which shall not be everlasting (for it will no longer be a city when it has been
committed to the extreme penalty), has its good in this world, and rejoices in it with such joy as
such things can afford. But as this is not a good which can discharge its devotees of all distresses,
this city is often divided against itself by litigations, wars, quarrels, and such victories as are either
life-destroying or short-lived. For each part of it that arms against another part of it seeks to
triumph over the nations through itself in bondage to vice. If, when it has conquered, it is inflated
with pride, its victory is life-destroying; but if it turns its thoughts upon the common casualties of
our mortal condition, and is rather anxious concerning the disasters that may befall it than elated
with the successes already achieved, this victory, though of a higher kind, is still only short-lived; for
it cannot abidingly rule over those whom it has victoriously subjugated. But the things which this
city desires cannot justly be said to be evil, for it is itself, in its own kind, better than all other
human good. For it desires earthly peace for the sake of enjoying earthly goods, and it makes war in
order to attain to this peace; since, if it has conquered, and there remains no one to resist it, it