Final answer:
St. Augustine valued spiritual knowledge over material learning, viewing the basics of grammar and advanced readings like the Aeneid as useful but not as essential as preparing the soul for salvation and the eternal life with God.
Step-by-step explanation:
St. Augustine of Hippo, an influential thinker of late antiquity, considered the learning of material life, including the basics of grammar and writing, as well as studying advanced works like the Aeneid, to be useful but ultimately not as significant as the Christian faith. For Augustine, the focus was on salvation and preparing for the heavenly city rather than on earthly knowledge. In his writings, such as The City of God, he emphasized that while earthly kingdoms like Rome could fall, the Kingdom of God, formed by those who embrace Christianity, would endure perpetually.
Thus, while Augustine would have recognized the importance of a strong foundation in grammar and writing for effective communication, he would argue that reading more advanced works, though valuable for intellectual development, pales in comparison to the importance of one's spiritual journey toward God. The ultimate goal, according to Augustine, is aligning one's soul with the divine will and anticipating the eternal peace of the heavenly city.