Saint Ambrose

c. 339–397 AD · Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church

Ambrose of Milan was one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church and the bishop who baptized Augustine of Hippo in 387 AD. His pastoral counsel to Augustine and his mother Monica about conforming to local church custom — recorded in Augustine’s letters — is the seed from which the “when in Rome” proverb is traditionally said to have grown.

Traced to source

1 quote we’ve traced

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”

Disputed

Not actually Saint Ambrose

Often misattributed to Saint Ambrose

Famous lines widely pinned on Saint Ambrose that we’ve traced to someone else.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”

actually Unknown

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Thought Saint Ambrose said something else?

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