Regarding the scientists he admires, Augustine writes, No, unhappy is the man who knows all this [about the universe], but does not know you; happy...

In this and
other passages from his Confessions, Augustine very strongly asserts that
our happiness is rooted in the Christian God. As he writes, "our heart is restless until it
rests in you."

Augustine states that science and other forms of
knowledge cannot of themselves bring us happiness unless they lead us to the source that created
all knowledge, which is God. Knowledge is subservient to God. More happiness comes from
gratitude to God for creating a tree and making it useful to us than from knowing every sort of
scientific fact about it.

This differs from Cicero's and other ancient
thinkers, such as Aristotle's, ideas of happiness in that they thought happiness was rooted in
living a morally virtuous life. For example, Cicero wrote that

anyone who is self-controlled, unwavering, fearless, undistressed, the victim of no
cravings or desires, must inevitably be happy.

This put
the burden on the individual to change himself to become a morally virtuous person, as the
ancient world understood virtue. In Augustine, the burden of happiness shifts to God. The
individual does not need to give up all desires, but to give in to the one good desire in the
human heart: the desire to rest in God. At this point, the individual's will to transformation
becomes secondary to God's will. Rest in God, Augustine says, and the creator God will transform
you and lead you to happiness.