Aristotle Quote by Allan Bloom
“Professors of Greek forget or are unaware that Thomas Aquinas, who did not know Greek, was a better interpreter of Aristotle than any of them have proved to be, not only because he was smarter but because he took Aristotle more seriously.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom, 1987
Bloom argues that modern scholars underestimate Aquinas’s grasp of Aristotle, noting his deeper engagement despite language barriers.
In simple terms: Aquinas understood Aristotle better than many modern Greek professors.
Key Takeaway
Recognize expertise beyond linguistic proficiency.
Themes
education
philosophy
interpretation
authority
humility
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
scholarly
When to use this quote
- academic seminars
- teaching philosophy
- historical analysis
- interdisciplinary research
Key Concepts
Aristotelian scholarship
language barriers
intellectual honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we evaluate expertise when language knowledge is missing?
- What other scholars might be overlooked due to similar gaps?
A Different Perspective
Aquinas’s interpretations were still limited by his own context and biases.
![“The 'words' of Augustine, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, St. John of Damascus, St. Thomas Aquinas, et al, may not have carried the weight of Canon, however they were neither paper-like nor mere 'pellets'." ~R. Alan Woods [2012]” quote by R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/461/r-alan-woods-1455_canon_the-words-of-augustine-origen-clement-of_1178430.jpg)
![“Saint Thomas Aquinas says, wisely, that the only way to drive out a bad passion is by a stronger good passion. The same is true of thoughts as of passions. When your mind wanders, like a child, your will must bring it back, like a mother. [. . .] The will-parent must discipline the mind-child…” quote by Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/726/peter-kreeft-820_discipline_saint-thomas-aquinas-says-wisely-that-th_537121.jpg)
