Nothing can restore hope to us except your [God’s] mercy, known since you began to transform us. You know how great a transformation you have brought about. You cured me in the first place of my lust for self-justification to show yourself propitious [having a good chance for success] to all my other iniquities; you heal all my diseases, you redeem my life from corruptions, crown me with compassion and mercy, and satisfy my long with good things (Psalm 102:3-5). By fear of you, you repressed my pride and by your yoke you made my neck submissive; now I carry that yoke, and it is gentle, exactly as your promised and as you made it (Matthew 11:30).

—Augustine, Confessions 10.36.58