A biography for Tertullianhasn’t been written yet.
“Truth engenders hatred of truth. As soon as it appears, it is the enemy.”
“It is certain because it is possible.”
“He who flees will fight again.”
“See how these Christians love one another.”
“Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy.”
“Two kinds of blindness are easily combined so that those who do not see really appear to see what is not.”
“Fear is the foundation of safety.”
“The nature of rumor is known to all.”
“Prevention of birth is a precipitation of murder.”
“The more you mow us down, the more numerous we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.”
“Christians are made, not born.”
“You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine.”
“You cannot parcel out freedom in pieces because freedom is all or nothing.”
“He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies.”
“Nature soaks every evil with either fear or shame.”
“Truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by persuading.”
“In very deed, pestilence, and famine, and wars, and earthquakes have to be regarded as a remedy for nations, as the means of pruning the luxuriance of the human race.”
“Indeed it is better to postpone, lest either we complete too little by hurrying, or wander too long in completing it.”
“Nothing that is God's is obtainable by money.”
“Hope is patience with the lamp lit.”