Freedom And Knowledge

Quid enim aliud dicendum est eis, qui cum sint iniqui et impii, liberaliter sibi videntur eruditi, nisi quod in litteris vere liberalibus legimus: Si vos Filius liberaverit, tunc vere liberi eritis? Per eum namque praestatur ut ipse etiam, quae liberales disciplinae ab eis qui in libertatem vocati non sunt appellantur, quid in se habeant liberale noscatur. Neque enim habent congruum libertati, nisi quod habent congruum veritati: unde ille ipse Filius: Et veritas, inquit, liberabit vos. Non ergo illae innumerabiles et impiae fabulae, quibus vanorum plena sunt carmina poetarum, ullo modo nostrae consonant libertati; non oratorum inflata et expolita mendacia; non denique ipsorum philosophorum garrulae argutiae, qui vel Deum prorsus non cognoverunt vel cum cognovissent Deum, non sicut Deum glorificaverunt, aut gratias egerunt, sed evanuerunt in cogitationibus suis, et obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum, et dicentes se esse sapientes, stulti facti sunt. Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis, Epistola CI, Memorio, Capuae episcopo

For what should we say to those who, though they are iniquitous and impious, consider themselves learned in the liberal arts, but what we read in those writings which truly are liberal: 'If the Son shall make you free, then truly you shall be free.' ? 1 For it is through Him that they may come to know anything which deserves the name in those liberal studies which by those who have not be called to liberty are termed liberal. For they have nothing that befits liberty, unless they have which befits the truth; whence the Son Himself has said: 'The truth shall make you free.' 2 Therefore the innumerable and impious fables with which the verses of vain poets are full have nothing in common with our liberty, nor do the bombastic and finely polished lies of orators, nor again do the verbose subtleties of philosophers, who either did not know God, or when they knew God, did not glorify Him as God, nor gave thanks, but they became vain in their own thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened, and declaring themselves to be wise, they became fools. 3 Saint Augustine of Hippo, from Letter 101, to Memorius Bishop of Capua 1 Jn 8.36  2 Jn 8.38 3 Rom 1.21-23