Augustine of Hippo

“ Men keep with care the rules of grammar; but neglect the eternal laws of lasting salvation. But what marvel that I was thus carried away to vanities, and went out from Thy presence, O my God, when men were set before me for imitation, who, if in relating some action of theirs, expressed themselves with some barbarism or solecism, being censured, were abashed; but if they related their own immortalities in words well chosen and aptly put together, with fluency and eloquence, being praised, they gloried? ”

“ As if, forsooth, once could receive more hurt from any human enemy, than the hatred's self with which he is incensed against him; or could wound more deeply him whom he persecutes, than he wounds his own soul by his enmity. Assuredly no science of letters is implanted in us, as the law of conscience, "Do not unto another as you would not be done by." ”

“ Behold, O Lord God, yea, behold patiently as Thou art wont, how carefully the sons of men observe the conventional rules of letters and symbols received from former speakers, neglecting the eternal covenant of everlasting salvation received from Thee; insomuch, that any who should hold to, or teach, the obsolete opinions of pronunciation and contrary to grammatical rule, should fail to aspirate the "h" in "uman being," would give more offence to human beings than if he, a human being, were to hold human beings in hatred, contrary to Thy precepts. ”