The season of excerpts

"There were other things done with them that captivated my mind more: talking together and laughing together, and happily taking turns at giving in to each other's wishes; reading well-phrased books together; joking together, and showing each other respect; disagreeing sometimes, but without anger, as a person disagrees with him- or herself, the infrequency of our disagreements making our many agreements all the more enjoyable; teaching and learning from one another, sadly longing for those who were absent, and joyfully welcoming those who joined us. Such signs, coming from hearts that loved and were loved in return, were shown in our faces, voices, eyes, and a thousand pleasant gestures, and were like kindling to inflame our minds and make the many of us into one."

Augustine, Confessions