The ‘grass bearing seed’ and ‘tree bearing fruit’ signify different degrees of mercy: simple, easy a… — Augustin d'Hippone

The ‘grass bearing seed’ and ‘tree bearing fruit’ signify different degrees of mercy: simple, easy acts of aid and more resolute, protective justice that rescues the oppressed from powerful injustice.

By Augustin d'Hippone, from Les Confessions

Key Arguments

He distinguishes lighter, everyday kindness from more costly, resolute assistance using the vegetal imagery: "and not only in easy ways, like ‘the grass bearing seed’, but with the protection and aid given with a resolute determination like ‘the tree bearing fruit’ (Gen. 1: 11)."
He specifies that ‘tree‑like’ fruit involves active intervention to protect victims of injustice: "This means such kindness as rescuing a person suffering injustice from the hand of the powerful and providing the shelter of protection by the mighty force of just judgement."

Source Quotes

1: 12), loving our neighbour in the relief of physical necessities, ‘having in itself seed according to its likeness’. Aware of our own infirmity we are moved to compassion to help the indigent, assisting them in the same way as we would wish to be helped if we were in the same distress—and not only in easy ways, like ‘the grass bearing seed’, but with the protection and aid given with a resolute determination like ‘the tree bearing fruit’ (Gen. 1: 11). This means such kindness as rescuing a person suffering injustice from the hand of the powerful and providing the shelter of protection by the mighty force of just judgement.20 xviii (22) So, Lord, I pray you, as you are the maker, as you are the giver of cheerfulness and of power, let ‘truth arise from the earth and justice look down from heaven’ (Ps.

1: 11). This means such kindness as rescuing a person suffering injustice from the hand of the powerful and providing the shelter of protection by the mighty force of just judgement.20 xviii (22) So, Lord, I pray you, as you are the maker, as you are the giver of cheerfulness and of power, let ‘truth arise from the earth and justice look down from heaven’ (Ps. 84: 12) and let there be ‘lights in the firmament’ (Gen.

Key Concepts

and not only in easy ways, like ‘the grass bearing seed’, but with the protection and aid given with a resolute determination like ‘the tree bearing fruit’ (Gen. 1: 11).
such kindness as rescuing a person suffering injustice from the hand of the powerful and providing the shelter of protection by the mighty force of just judgement.

Context

Book XIII, xvii (21): Continuing his allegory of the earth’s vegetation, Augustine grades works of mercy into lighter and more demanding forms, mapping them onto grass and fruit‑bearing trees.