At the age of 17, through the generosity of his fellow citizen Romanianus, Augustine went to Carthage to continue his education in rhetoric. It was while he was a student in Carthage that he read Cicero's dialogue Hortensius (now lost), which he described as leaving a lasting impression and sparking his interest in philosophy. Although raised as a Christian, Augustine left the church to follow the Manichaean religion, much to his mother's despair. As a youth Augustine lived a hedonistic lifestyle for a time. The need to gain their acceptance forced inexperienced boys like Augustine to seek or make up stories about experiences with women. It was during this period that he uttered his famous prayer, "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet."

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