Accepting Quote by Thomas Aquinas
“For creation is not a change, but that dependence of the created existence on the principle from which it is instituted, and thus is of the genus of relation; whence nothing prohibits it being in the created as in the subject. Creation is thus said to be a kind of change, according to the way of understanding, insofar as our intellect accepts one and the same thing as not existing before and afterwards existing.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 12, 1265
Creation is not a simple change but a relational dependence on its originating principle; understanding this relation makes creation appear as both new and continuous.
In simple terms: Creation depends on its source, linking change and continuity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize underlying principles.
Themes
theology
philosophy
ontology
metaphysics
continuity
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- spiritual reflection
- ethical decision making
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
causality
dependence
identity
change
Questions to Reflect On
- What principles underlie your creations?
- How does this view affect your sense of purpose?
A Different Perspective
Complex metaphysics can be abstract for laypeople.
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