Thomas Aquinas Quotes

229 quotes in 2447 categories

• 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…
• Distinctions drawn by the mind are not necessarily equivalent to distinctions in reality.
• A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.
• 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…
• 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…
• Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.
• Love is a binding force, by which another is joined to me and cherished by myself.
• All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.
• Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect…
• Love must precede hatred, and nothing is hated save through being contrary to a suitable thing which is loved. And hence it is that every…
• Moral science is better occupied when treating of friendship than of justice.
• Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions, but regulates them.
• Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.
• Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.
• The principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly rather than to attack them.
• Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the recipient.

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