All things Quote by Thomas Aquinas
“Suppose a person entering a house were to feel heat on the porch, and going further, were to feel the heat increasing, the more they penetrated within. Doubtless, such a person would believe there was a fire in the house, even though they did not see the fire that must be causing all this heat. A similar thing will happen to anyone who considers this world in detail: one will observe that all things are arranged according to their degrees of beauty and excellence, and that the nearer they are to God, the more beautiful and better they are.”
About This Quote
Source Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 12
Observing heat without seeing fire leads to infer a cause; similarly, beauty and excellence indicate closeness to God.
In simple terms: Heat suggests fire; beauty suggests divine closeness.
Key Takeaway
Seek beauty as a sign of higher truth.
Themes
theology
philosophy
observation
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- art appreciation
- scientific inference
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
cause and effect
beauty as indicator
Questions to Reflect On
- What does beauty reveal to you?
- How do you discern true causes?
A Different Perspective
Beauty can be subjective, not always divine.
![“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)
