Necessity Quote by Thomas Aquinas
“It is necessary to posit something which is necessary of itself, and has no cause of its necessity outside of itself but is the cause of necessity in other things. And all people call this thing God.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 2, Article 3
The argument asserts that there exists a self‑existent, uncaused being that grounds all other necessities, identified as God.
In simple terms: God is the self‑causing source of all necessity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the foundational role of a self‑existent principle.
Themes
theology
philosophy
existence
causality
metaphysics
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- religious discourse
- academic study
- personal reflection
- debate on existence
Key Concepts
Ontological argument
necessary being
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean for something to be self‑existent?
- How does this view affect moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Critics argue the premise of a self‑causing entity is unprovable.
![“[Necessity is] the sum of all things, which being now existent, conduce and concur to the production of that action hereafter, whereof if any one thing now were wanting, the effect could not be produced. This concourse of causes, whereof every one is determined to be such as it is by a like…” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a3e/thomas-hobbes-1127_action_necessity-is-the-sum-of-all-things-which_904190.jpg)
![“By the divine providence [animals] are intended for man's use... Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by killing or in any other way whatsoever.” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f48/thomas-aquinas-837_animal_by-the-divine-providence-animals-are-int_112669.jpg)
