Thomas Aquinas > Quotes

“Beware the man of one book.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The soul is like an uninhabited world
that comes to life only when
God lays His head
against us.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is. ”
― Thomas Aquinas

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Better to illuminate than merely to shine to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Wonder is the desire of knowledge.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“How is it they live in such harmony, the billions of stars, when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds?”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher
is bound in  his  way to  be a lover of myths  and   poetic fables.
Poets and philosophers are alike in
being big with wonder.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“There must be must be a first mover existing above all – and this we call God.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Obedience unites us so closely to God that it in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His.
If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Grant, O Lord my God, that I may never fall away in success or in failure; that I may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity. Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what separates us. May I strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except Yourself. May I see always the things that are eternal and never those that are only temporal. May I shun any joy that is without You and never seek any that is beside You. O Lord, may I delight in any work I do for You and tire of any rest that is apart from You. My God, let me direct my heart towards You, and in my failings, always repent with a purpose of amendment.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“It is not theft, properly speaking, to take secretly and use another's property in a case of extreme need: because that which he takes for the support of his life becomes his own property by reason of that need”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The happy man in this life needs friends.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain. ”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The human mind may perceive truth only through thinking, as is clear from Augustine.”
― Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

“Love follows knowledge.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“I receive Thee ransom of my soul. For love of Thee have I studied and kept vigil toiled preached and taught…”
― Thomas Aquinas

“A song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The blessed in the kingdom of heaven will see the punishments of the damned, in order that their bliss be more delightful for them.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Since faith rests upon infallible truth, and since the contrary of a truth can never be demonstrated, it is clear that the arguments brought against faith cannot be demonstrations, but are difficulties that can be answered.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“[I]t is to be borne in mind, in regard to the philosophical sciences, that the inferior sciences neither prove their principles nor dispute with those who deny them, but leave this to a higher science; whereas the highest of them, viz. metaphysics, can dispute with one who denies its principles, if only the opponent will make some concession; but if he concede nothing, it can have no dispute with him, though it can answer his objections. Hence Sacred Scripture, since it has no science above itself, can dispute with one who denies its principles only if the opponent admits some at least of the truths obtained through divine revelation; thus we can argue with heretics from texts in Holy Writ, and against those who deny one article of faith, we can argue from another. If our opponent believes nothing of divine revelation, there is no longer any means of proving the articles of faith by reasoning, but only of answering his objections — if he has any — against faith. Since faith rests upon infallible truth, and since the contrary of a truth can never be demonstrated, it is clear that the arguments brought against faith cannot be demonstrations, but are difficulties that can be answered.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“There would not be a perfect likeness of God in the universe if all things were of one grade of being.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“In the old law, God was praised both with musical instruments, and human voices. But the church does not use musical instruments to praise God, lest she should seem to judaize.”
― Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

“Pipes are not to be used for teaching, nor any artificial instruments, as the harp, or the like: but whatsoever will make the hearers good men.”
― Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

“The existence of a prime mover- nothing can move itself; there must be a first mover. The first mover is called God.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The Stone is one, the Medicine is one, to which we add nothing, only in the preparation removing superfluities.”
― Thomas Aquinas

“The truth can be perceived only through thinking, as is proven by Augustine.”
― Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica