--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If somebody is going to try to paste a…" description: "\"If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. Don't give me Ayn Rand.\" — Paul Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/paul-ryan-869_aquinas_if-somebody-is-going-to-try-to-paste-a-p_2935656.jpg" --- # If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on… ![“If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. Don't give me Ayn Rand.” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/paul-ryan-869_aquinas_if-somebody-is-going-to-try-to-paste-a-p_2935656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/paul-ryan-869_aquinas_if-somebody-is-going-to-try-to-paste-a-p_2935656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/paul-ryan-869_aquinas_if-somebody-is-going-to-try-to-paste-a-p_2935656.jpg) > “If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. Don't give me Ayn Rand.” [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring Thomas Aquinas over Ayn Rand for epistemological discussions highlights a preference for classical philosophical frameworks. **In simple terms:** Choosing Aquinas over Rand shows a classical philosophical preference. Key Takeaway Explore diverse philosophical foundations. Themes philosophy epistemology tradition debate Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - academic curricula - public debates - personal study Key Concepts classical metaphysics modern rationalism ethical theory Questions to Reflect On - Why favor Aquinas in contemporary debates? - How does Rand’s view contrast? A Different Perspective Different audiences may favor different thinkers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ayn-rand/) [Epistemology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/) [Epistemology Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology-thomas-4350079/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thomas-aquinas/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [ I reject her \[Ayn Rand's\] philosophy. It's an atheist philosophy. It reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-reject-her-ayn-rand-s-philosophy-it-s-an-atheist-philosophy-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“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/) > [“Thomas Aquinas was asked, “What must I do to be a saint?” and he said, “Will it.” Be a saint, and you’ll unleash the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/thomas-aquinas-was-asked-what-must-i-do-to-be-a-saint-and-he-said/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) > [ “It was the outstanding fact about St. Thomas \[Aquinas\] that he loved books and lived on books ... When asked for what he thanked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-was-the-outstanding-fact-about-st-thomas-aquinas-that-he-loved/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Thomas Aquinas states parenthetically, as something entirely obvious, that men are more rational than women. For my part, I see no evidence of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/thomas-aquinas-states-parenthetically-as-something-entirely-obvious/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucette-verboven/) > [One day when Thomas Aquinas was preaching to the local populace on the love of God, he saw an old woman listening attentively to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/one-day-when-thomas-aquinas-was-preaching-to-the-local-populace-on/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“There are indeed solid ontological foundations for an understanding of signals of transformation. 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In one sense, it signifies an unbreached commitment to reasoned thought in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/in-the-history-of-philosophy-the-term-rationalism-has-two-distinct/) [Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/) > [I grew up reading Ayn Rand and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-grew-up-reading-ayn-rand-and-it-taught-me-quite-a-bit-about-who-i/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Ayn Rand more than anyone else did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism, the morality of individualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/ayn-rand-more-than-anyone-else-did-a-fantastic-job-of-explaining-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I think Ayn Rand did the best job of anybody to build a moral case of capitalism, and that morality of capitalism is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-think-ayn-rand-did-the-best-job-of-anybody-to-build-a-moral-case-of/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-reason-i-got-involved-in-public-service-by-and-large-if-i-had-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [And when you look at the twentieth-century experiment with collectivism-that Ayn Rand, more than anybody else, did such a good job of articulating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/and-when-you-look-at-the-twentieth-century-experiment-with/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## More by Paul Ryan > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Grow jobs. Get this economy growing. Raise wages. Simplify the tax system, so it's easy to comply with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/grow-jobs-get-this-economy-growing-raise-wages-simplify-the-tax/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Donald Trump is a pretty casual guy. He calls me Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/donald-trump-is-a-pretty-casual-guy-he-calls-me-paul/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [ What \[President Donald Trump\] is doing is taking away the executive overreach that President \[Barack\] Obama did which we thought exceeded his powers. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-president-donald-trump-is-doing-is-taking-away-the-executive/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. There are a few things he would say that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/my-dad-died-when-i-was-young-he-was-a-good-and-decent-man-there-are-a/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Millions of young Americans have graduated from college during the Obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. Half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/millions-of-young-americans-have-graduated-from-college-during-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [When you take a look at the problems our country is facing, debt is No. 1. The math is downright scary and the credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-you-take-a-look-at-the-problems-our-country-is-facing-debt-is-no/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [What I'm concerned about is endless borrowing, which is going to compromise our economy not only today but in the future. Because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-i-m-concerned-about-is-endless-borrowing-which-is-going-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-believe-as-our-founders-did-that-the-pursuit-of-happiness-depends/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If you’re going to criticize, you should propose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-going-to-criticize-you-should-propose/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I call crony capitalism, where you take money from successful small businesses, spend it in Washington on favored industries, on favored individuals, picking winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-call-crony-capitalism-where-you-take-money-from-successful-small/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) [Explore all 345 Paul Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucette-verboven/) [Browse all 31 Aquinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. 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