The City of God · Chapter
XXII explained
Augustine argues that suicide is not an act of magnanimity but rather a sign of a feeble mind unable to bear hardships or public opinion.
What happens
Augustine argues that suicide is not an act of magnanimity but rather a sign of a feeble mind unable to bear hardships or public opinion. He critiques the example of Cleombrotus, who killed himself after reading Plato on the immortality of the soul, noting that Plato himself would not have approved. Augustine emphasizes that sound judgment and piety should guide actions, not pagan examples, and that Christ and the patriarchs never endorsed suicide.
Themes in this chapter
Morality and Virtue vs. Pagan Corruption
Augustine contrasts true virtue (enduring hardship with sound judgment) with pagan notions of magnanimity that justify suicide.
True Worship and the One God
The chapter emphasizes that worshippers of the one true God should not imitate pagan examples of suicide.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and primary voice arguing against suicide as magnanimous.
- Plato
Referenced as the author of a book on the immortality of the soul that inspired Cleombrotus's suicide.
- Jesus Christ
Mentioned as having admonished his disciples to flee persecution but not to commit suicide.
Key passages
“But they who have laid violent hands on themselves are perhaps to be admired for their greatness of soul, though they cannot be applauded for the soundness of their judgment.”
Those who commit suicide might be admired for seeming courage, but their judgment is flawed.
Augustine distinguishes between apparent magnanimity and true wisdom.
“Is it not rather proof of a feeble mind, to be unable to bear either the pains of bodily servitude or the foolish opinion of the vulgar?”
Suicide actually shows weakness, not strength, because the person cannot endure hardship or public criticism.
Augustine redefines courage as endurance, not escape.
“For suicide we cannot cite the example of patriarchs, prophets, or apostles; though our Lord Jesus Christ, when He admonished them to flee from city to city if they were persecuted, might very well have taken that occasion to advise them to lay violent hands on themselves, and so escape their persecutors.”
No biblical figures or Christ himself ever endorsed suicide, even when advising on persecution.
Augustine argues that Christian tradition provides no support for self-killing.