It doesn't quote enough context to even clarify if he recommended damage, or whether he was mocking the people doing the damage.

EDIT: found a larger quotation. From the context, the use of the quote in TFA looks like a misrepresentation of what Augustine said, since it doesn't sound like he was offering an opinion on whether or not it should be done.

https://books.google.com/books?id=z5ufDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT91&lpg=P...

He chimes in on the break vs disfigure argument, but doesn't get into the why the nose would have special meaning. That's the part which is so fascinating tbh.