Thomas
Aquinas Quotes
 Thomas
Aquinas was a Christian theologian and scholastic
philosopher who was able to reconcile Aristotle's work with
traditional Church doctrine.
Prior to Aquinas' work, it was Augustine with
his emphasis on revelation and God's sovereignty, who was the
dominant figure in Western philosophy.
Although Aquinas was an Aristotelian and an
empiricist, he also believed that truth is known through reason
(natural revelation) and faith (supernatural revelation).
Below are some well-known, wise and insightful
quotes form the works of Thomas Aquinas.
Well-ordered self-love
is right and natural.
Wonder is the desire for knowledge.
Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the
recipient.
All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of
a single fly.
Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that
some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and
suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as
inappropriate to them.
All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said has its origin
in the Spirit.
Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others
contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other
endowments.
Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with
things that are not at hand.
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by
man's own will.
How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all
madly in love with the same God.
If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he
would keep it in port forever.
In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary.
First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause.
Thirdly, a rightful intention.
Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.
Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of
true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to
carnal pleasures.
The things that we love tell us what we are.
To live
well is to work well, to show a good activity.
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one
without faith, no explanation is possible.
Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of
wine.
Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.
A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.
The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being
governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the
direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing.
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by
man's own will.
Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the
passions.
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