Goodness Quote by Thomas Aquinas
““What causes love, since it is a passion, is its object; and since it is a sort of affinity or agreement with the object, what causes love is the goodness or agreeableness of that object. Evil can only be loved because it seems good, because being partially good it is perceived as wholly so. And the beautiful is a form of the good: if something is agreeable in general we call it good, and if the perception of it is agreeable we call it beautiful. But goodness must be known before it can become the object of love, so knowledge itself can be said to cause love. Knowing is an activity of reason, which abstracts from things and then makes connections between them, needing to know each part and property and power of things if it is to know them perfectly. But loving is an appetite for things as they stand, and to love perfectly we need only love them as they are perceived to exist in themselves.””
About This Quote
Love arises from perceiving an object as good; knowledge of its goodness enables love, while love seeks the object as it truly is.
In simple terms: Love follows from recognizing goodness in something.
Key Takeaway
Knowledge of goodness fuels love.
Themes
love
goodness
knowledge
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- evaluating a partner's character
- appreciating art
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
theory of love
epistemology
Practical Applications
- Reflect on why you admire someone
- Seek deeper understanding before forming attachment
Questions to Reflect On
- Can love exist without knowledge of goodness?
- How does perception shape affection?
A Different Perspective
Love can also arise from irrational attraction, not solely from rational assessment of goodness.
![“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)
