Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest, an influential philosopher and theologian, and a jurist in the tradition of scholasticism from the county of Aquino in the Kingdom of Sicily, Italy; he is known within the tradition as the Doctor Angelicus, the Doctor Communis, and the Doctor Universalis.
Thomas Aquinas Quotes
There must be must be a first mover existing above all – and this we call God.
—Thomas Aquinas
It must be said that charity can, in no way, exist along with mortal sin.
—Thomas Aquinas
Man cannot live without joy. That is why one deprived of spiritual joys goes over to carnal pleasures.
—Thomas Aquinas
It is absurd and a detestable shame, that we should suffer those traditions to be changed which we have received from the fathers of old.
—Thomas Aquinas
Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.
—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
Thus the sun which possesses light perfectly, can shine by itself; whereas the moon which has the nature of light imperfectly, sheds only a borrowed light.
—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
Man should not consider his material possessions as his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.
—Thomas Aquinas
God is never angry for His sake, only for ours.
—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
The study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is.
—Thomas Aquinas
The truth can be perceived only through thinking, as is proven by Augustine.
—Thomas Aquinas
By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.
—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
To make peace either in oneself or among others, shows a man to be a follower of God.
—Thomas Aquinas
Beware of the person of one book
—Thomas Aquinas
Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain.
—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
Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.
—Thomas Aquinas