Laudator Temporis Acti

Augustine, Sermons 391.3 (Patrologia Latina, vol. 39, col. 1707; tr. Edmund Hill):

It is this period that is tossed about by the most frequent and severe storms of temptation, this that is battered and overwhelmed most often by the tidal waves of the world and this age. Youth is over-confident about its strength, boastful about its handsome appearance, either aims at making a show with the glitter and gloss of temporal possessions, or is delighted at actually doing so. And thus for bad young people, whatever truth has commanded is poison, whatever the devil has suggested is food. But in fact the bitter taste of justice is the right medicine for the ulcer of youth, while the sweet taste of injustice is the bait in the mousetrap to catch its headstrong rashness.

Haec pluribus atque maioribus tentationum tempestatibus quatitur, haec fluctuum crebriore impetu saeculi exundantis operitur. Praesumit viribus, formae dignitate iactatur, pompa rerum temporalium praefulgere aut exoptat aut gaudet. Itaque iuventuti malorum venenum est quidquid veritas praecepit, esca est quidquid diabolus suggesserit: sed amaritudo iustitiae medicamentum est ulceris aetatis; dulcedo autem iniustitiae muscipula est temeritatis.