The Essential Augustine
PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY 233 rising of the sun, though it precedes it, nor is the act of forming the image in my mind that rising; these two present things are discerned so that that future thing may be foretold,
Therefore future things do not yet exist and, if they do not yet exist, they are not existing; if they are not existing, they cannot possibly be seen. But they can be predicted from present things which already exist and are seen.
And so what is the mode by which Thou, the Ruler 25. of thy creation, dost teach souls about things which are to be in the future? For Thou hast taught Thy prophets. What then is this mode, by which Thou teachest the things of the future—Thou to whom nothing is to come? Or is it rather that Thou teachest present things about future events? For that which does not exist cannot of course be taught. This mode is too far away from my mental gaze; it has become too great for me, I cannot reach it; but with Thy help I can, when Thou wilt grant it, O sweet Light of my hidden eyes.
What is now plain and clear is that neither future 26. mor past things are in existence, and that it is not correct to say there are three periods of time: past, present and future. Perhaps it would be proper to say there are three periods of time: the present of things past, the present of things present, the present of things future. For these three are in the soul and I do not see them elsewhere: the present of things past is memory; the present of things present is immediate vision; the present of future things is expectation. If we are permitted to say this, I see three periods of time and I admit there are three.
Still it may be said three periods of time do exist—past, present and future—just as custom falsely put it; it may be so expressed. See, I do not care or make any opposition or criticism—provided the statement be understood: that there is no existing now either of what is to be in the future or that which is past. There are few things which we express properly; more frequent are those that we express improperly, though making out intentions understood.
So I said, a little while ago, that, as periods of 27. time are passing by, we measure them, being thus able to say that this period of time is double that single one, or this is just as long as that, and whatever else we can express by measuring concerning the relationship of the parts of time.