Such as we are, such are the times.

St. Augustine of Hippo has been on the periphery of my awareness at least since college, probably high school.  One of those thinkers whom you know you ought to read, but . . . 

I have never gotten around to reading much about him.  A few articles here and there.  A handful of excerpts.  I have 5-10 books by or about him but that is no good indicator of intentions.  I have a lot of books which I intend to read but don't.  Or, at least, haven't yet.

This morning, though, I came across a banger that has me looking up where those books are. 

From his Sermons:

Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.

I could not agree more.  All the whining and complaining about the dangers and hardships of today are as  nothing to the dangers and tragedies of yesteryear.  We choose to be miserable.  It is out choice.  Such as we are, such are the times.