--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who are more adapted to the active…" description: "\"Those who are more adapted to the active life can prepare themselves for contemplation in the practice of the active life, while those who are more ada..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/thomas-aquinas-837_active_those-who-are-more-adapted-to-the-active_2084833.jpg" --- # Those who are more adapted to the active life can prepare… ![“Those who are more adapted to the active life can prepare themselves for contemplation in the practice of the active life, while those who are more adapted to the contemplative life can take upon themselves the works of the active life so as to become yet.” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/thomas-aquinas-837_active_those-who-are-more-adapted-to-the-active_2084833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/thomas-aquinas-837_active_those-who-are-more-adapted-to-the-active_2084833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/thomas-aquinas-837_active_those-who-are-more-adapted-to-the-active_2084833.jpg) > “Those who are more adapted to the active life can prepare themselves for contemplation in the practice of the active life, while those who are more adapted to the contemplative life can take upon themselves the works of the active life so as to become yet.” [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing action and contemplation enriches both pursuits; active people can learn reflection, contemplatives can engage in work. **In simple terms:** Mix activity with reflection for growth. Key Takeaway Blend work and thought. Themes balance growth dualism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - spiritual practice - education - volunteering Key Concepts philosophy spirituality ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you schedule time for both work and reflection? - What benefits arise from integrating contemplation into daily tasks? A Different Perspective May neglect depth in favor of busyness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-life/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Contemplative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplative/) [Contemplative life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplative-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) ## Related quotes > [For in order that man may do well, whether in the works of the active life, or in those of the contemplative life, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/for-in-order-that-man-may-do-well-whether-in-the-works-of-the-active/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Man's activity consists in either a making or doing. Both of these aspects of the active life depend for their correction upon the contemplative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/man-s-activity-consists-in-either-a-making-or-doing-both-of-these/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidore-of-seville/in-the-active-life-all-the-vices-are-first-of-all-to-be-removed-by/) [Isidore of Seville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidore-of-seville/) > [You know, Monsieur, that, although the contemplative life is more perfect than the active life, it is not, however, more so than one which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/you-know-monsieur-that-although-the-contemplative-life-is-more/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Necessary for a contemplative life: a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/necessary-for-a-contemplative-life-a-cup-of-understanding-a-barrel-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Even the contemplative life is only an effort, Nora my dear, to hide the body so the feet won’t stick out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djuna-barnes/even-the-contemplative-life-is-only-an-effort-nora-my-dear-to-hide/) [Djuna Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djuna-barnes/) > [“Not too long ago thousands spent their lives as recluses to find spiritual vision in the solitude of nature. 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That is my ideal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-live-a-very-secluded-life-a-very-contemplative-life-and-a-very/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Woman's normal occupations in general run counter to creative life, or contemplative life, or saintly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/woman-s-normal-occupations-in-general-run-counter-to-creative-life-or/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The contemplative life is often miserable. One must act more, think less, and not watch oneself live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contemplative-life-is-often-miserable-one-must-act-more-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Thomas Aquinas > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Justice is in subjects as well as in rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/justice-is-in-subjects-as-well-as-in-rulers/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“A capacity as such is directed to an act. 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Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/by-the-divine-providence-animals-are-intended-for-man-s-use-hence-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/what-causes-love-since-it-is-a-passion-is-its-object-and-since-it-is/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The image of God always abides in the soul, whether this image be obsolete and clouded over as to amount to almost nothing; or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-image-of-god-always-abides-in-the-soul-whether-this-image-be/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Charity, by which God and neighbor are loved, is the most perfect friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/charity-by-which-god-and-neighbor-are-loved-is-the-most-perfect/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Beauty adds to goodness a relation to the cognitive faculty: so that "good" means that which simply pleases the appetite; while the "beautiful" is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/beauty-adds-to-goodness-a-relation-to-the-cognitive-faculty-so-that/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“God is not, like creatures, made up of parts. God is spirit, without bodily dimensions. Firstly, no body can cause change without itself being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/god-is-not-like-creatures-made-up-of-parts-god-is-spirit-without/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) [Explore all 357 Thomas Aquinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. 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Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. 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