--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood…" description: "\"Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time. And even where he errs, you can learn more from the errors of a great mind than you can learn ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_aquinas-is-worth-reading-he-has-stood-th_2705202.png" --- # Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time… ![“Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time. And even where he errs, you can learn more from the errors of a great mind than you can learn from the truths of a small mind. You can see a whole lot farther standing on the shoulders of giants.” quote by Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_aquinas-is-worth-reading-he-has-stood-th_2705202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_aquinas-is-worth-reading-he-has-stood-th_2705202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_aquinas-is-worth-reading-he-has-stood-th_2705202.png) > “Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time. And even where he errs, you can learn more from the errors of a great mind than you can learn from the truths of a small mind. You can see a whole lot farther standing on the shoulders of giants.” [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading Aquinas is valuable; even his errors teach more than a lesser mind’s truths, building on giants’ shoulders. **In simple terms:** Aquinas’ mistakes are instructive. Key Takeaway Learn from both successes and failures. Themes education philosophy history learning humility Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - Academic study - personal growth - teaching - research Key Concepts Intellectual lineage critical analysis Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from a great thinker’s mistakes? - How do you balance critique with appreciation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on errors may undervalue correct ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Shoulders Of Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders-of-giants/) [Test of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-of-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [I can't tell you how Aquinas has enriched and changed my life, my thought. He has helped me to be a better evangelical, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/i-can-t-tell-you-how-aquinas-has-enriched-and-changed-my-life-my/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [It is a time of change,'' Sazed said. ''Perhaps it is also time to learn of other truths, other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/it-is-a-time-of-change-sazed-said-perhaps-it-is-also-time-to-learn-of/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [The wonderful thing about books is that they allow us to enter imaginatively into someone else’s life. And when we do that, we learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/the-wonderful-thing-about-books-is-that-they-allow-us-to-enter/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Go take the mother's soul, and learn three truths: Learn What dwells in man, What is not given to man , and What men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/go-take-the-mother-s-soul-and-learn-three-truths-learn-what-dwells-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“We must come down from our heights, and leave our straight paths, for the byways and low places of life, If we would learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-dana-jr/we-must-come-down-from-our-heights-and-leave-our-straight-paths-for/) [Richard Henry Dana Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-dana-jr/) > [“We must come down from our heights, and leave our straight paths for the by-ways and low places of life, if we would learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-dana-jr/we-must-come-down-from-our-heights-and-leave-our-straight-paths-for-2/) [Richard Henry Dana Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-dana-jr/) > [When you are sad or in pain or sick or you witness any cremation then you actually learn the many truths of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neem-karoli-baba/when-you-are-sad-or-in-pain-or-sick-or-you-witness-any-cremation-then/) [Neem Karoli Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neem-karoli-baba/) > [“John Finnis observed that, since there is no doctrine of subjective rights in Aquinas and there is such a doctrine in Suarez, a “watershed”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tierney/john-finnis-observed-that-since-there-is-no-doctrine-of-subjective/) Brian Tierney > [“The attempt to understand morality in the legalistic terms of a natural law is ancient but is now mostly associated with the formulation given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knud-haakonsen/the-attempt-to-understand-morality-in-the-legalistic-terms-of-a/) Knud Haakonsen > [“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-thomas-s-conceptual/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“Chili is one of those marvelous-simple, elemental, all-important, and fundamental concepts that has been elaborated out of all recognition: rather like justice, or objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/chili-is-one-of-those-marvelous-simple-elemental-all-important-and/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [There is little of the true philosophic spirit in Aquinas. He does not, like the Platonic Socrates, set out to follow wherever the argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-little-of-the-true-philosophic-spirit-in-aquinas-he-does-not/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I couldn't make any judgment on the Summa, except to say this: I read it for about twenty minutes every night before I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-couldn-t-make-any-judgment-on-the-summa-except-to-say-this-i-read/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“As St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) taught, whatever we say about God is more unlike God than saying nothing. If we do say something, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/as-st-thomas-aquinas-1225-1274-taught-whatever-we-say-about-god-is/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) ## More by Norman Geisler > [The age of the Earth is a hotly debated issue among evangelicals. Old Earthers believe, like most scientists, that the universe is billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-age-of-the-earth-is-a-hotly-debated-issue-among-evangelicals-old/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [The universe is specifically tweaked to enable life on earth-a planet with scores of improbable and interdependent life-supporting conditions that make it a tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-universe-is-specifically-tweaked-to-enable-life-on-earth-a-planet/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Most relativists believe that relativism is absolutely true and that everyone should be a relativist. Therin lies the self-destructive nature of relativism. The relativist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/most-relativists-believe-that-relativism-is-absolutely-true-and-that/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [For some, the belief in a Young Earth seems to be based on a kind of intuition or faith in what they believe an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/for-some-the-belief-in-a-young-earth-seems-to-be-based-on-a-kind-of/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Pluralism is denied logically; inclusivism is denied scripturally, and that leaves us with exclusivism... you have to know that Jesus died and believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/pluralism-is-denied-logically-inclusivism-is-denied-scripturally-and/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [One should never tie his faith to how old the earth is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/one-should-never-tie-his-faith-to-how-old-the-earth-is/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [In 1963 with Abington v. Schempp, The Court said that reading portions of the New Testament could be 'psychologically harmful' to the children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/in-1963-with-abington-v-schempp-the-court-said-that-reading-portions/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [All views can't be true because all views are opposite; this is the logical aspect. For example, Islam says we are good in nature;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/all-views-can-t-be-true-because-all-views-are-opposite-this-is-the/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Satre found atheism 'cruel', Camus 'dreadful', and Nietzsche 'maddening'. Atheists who consistently try to live without God tend to commit suicide or go insane.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/satre-found-atheism-cruel-camus-dreadful-and-nietzsche-maddening/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Jesus is the only way because the Bible says it to be true. Why? Because only He can bridge the gap between God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/jesus-is-the-only-way-because-the-bible-says-it-to-be-true-why/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and continued research have consistently demonstrated that the Word of God is better informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/while-many-have-doubted-the-accuracy-of-the-bible-time-and-continued/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Since the Court took God our of our schools, we've gotten exactly what we should expect: godless schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/since-the-court-took-god-our-of-our-schools-we-ve-gotten-exactly-what/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Even Martin Luther and John Calvin believed that the Roman Catholic church, up to the Council of Trent, was basically orthodox - a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/even-martin-luther-and-john-calvin-believed-that-the-roman-catholic/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Even Bertrand Russell, who fancied he saw flaws in Christ's character, confessed nonetheless that 'What the world needs is love, Christian love, or compassion.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/even-bertrand-russell-who-fancied-he-saw-flaws-in-christ-s-character/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) [Explore all 23 Norman Geisler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) ## More Aquinas quotes > [“As St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) taught, whatever we say about God is more unlike God than saying nothing. If we do say something, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/as-st-thomas-aquinas-1225-1274-taught-whatever-we-say-about-god-is/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [“I couldn't make any judgment on the Summa, except to say this: I read it for about twenty minutes every night before I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-couldn-t-make-any-judgment-on-the-summa-except-to-say-this-i-read/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [There is little of the true philosophic spirit in Aquinas. He does not, like the Platonic Socrates, set out to follow wherever the argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-little-of-the-true-philosophic-spirit-in-aquinas-he-does-not/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Chili is one of those marvelous-simple, elemental, all-important, and fundamental concepts that has been elaborated out of all recognition: rather like justice, or objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/chili-is-one-of-those-marvelous-simple-elemental-all-important-and/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-thomas-s-conceptual/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“The attempt to understand morality in the legalistic terms of a natural law is ancient but is now mostly associated with the formulation given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knud-haakonsen/the-attempt-to-understand-morality-in-the-legalistic-terms-of-a/) Knud Haakonsen > [“John Finnis observed that, since there is no doctrine of subjective rights in Aquinas and there is such a doctrine in Suarez, a “watershed”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tierney/john-finnis-observed-that-since-there-is-no-doctrine-of-subjective/) Brian Tierney > [“Aquinas teaches: " As God did not bind His power to the Sacraments, so as to be unable to bestow the sacramental effect without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/aquinas-teaches-as-god-did-not-bind-his-power-to-the-sacraments-so-as/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [Commentators who today talk of 'The Dark Ages' when faith instead of reason was said to ruthlessly rule, have for their animadversions only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/commentators-who-today-talk-of-the-dark-ages-when-faith-instead-of/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [Dawkins’s problem is that he doesn’t know the difference between probabilistic empirical theorizing and strict metaphysical demonstration, and thus misreads an attempt at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-feser/dawkins-s-problem-is-that-he-doesn-t-know-the-difference-between/) [Edward Feser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-feser/) > [“There is ... a contemporary trend to make a sort of 'common intellect' out of society and forbid man his own independent access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-t-clark/there-is-a-contemporary-trend-to-make-a-sort-of-common-intellect-out/) Mary T. Clark > [“There are indeed solid ontological foundations for an understanding of signals of transformation. Both Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin take the notion of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-sire-2/there-are-indeed-solid-ontological-foundations-for-an-understanding/) [James W Sire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-sire-2/) > [Aquinas was once asked, with what compendium a man might become learned? He answered "By reading of one book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/aquinas-was-once-asked-with-what-compendium-a-man-might-become/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“The Fear of the Lord, that is the beginning of wisdom, and therefore belongs to the beginnings, and is felt in the first cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-fear-of-the-lord-that-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom-and-therefore/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Thomas Aquinas said that people are fundamentally good and seek the goodness that is God. It goes wrong when we allow ourselves to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucette-verboven/thomas-aquinas-said-that-people-are-fundamentally-good-and-seek-the/) Lucette Verboven [Browse all 31 Aquinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time. And even where he errs, you can learn more from the errors of a great mind than you can learn from the truths of a small mind. 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