Quotes by Thomas Aquinas

About Thomas Aquinas:

Tommaso d'Aquino is also known as the "Doctor Angelicus" and "Doctor Communis". He is heralded as the most influential Western medieval legal scholar and theologist. The name "Aquinas" identifies his ancestral origins in the county of Aquino (in the present-day Lazio region), an area where his family held land until 1137.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.

Thomas Aquinas

knowledge depends on the mode of the knower; for what is known is in the knower according to the measure of his mode

Thomas Aquinas

The principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly rather than to attack them.

Thomas Aquinas

If forgers and malefactors are put to death by the secular power, there is much more reason for excommunicating and even putting to death one convicted of heresy.

Thomas Aquinas

It is clear that he does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir the man in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will what the man in us w...

Thomas Aquinas

How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God.

Thomas Aquinas

The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.

Thomas Aquinas

Reason in man is rather like God in the world.

Thomas Aquinas

That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell.

Thomas Aquinas

It is possible to demonstrate God's existence, although not a priori, yet a posteriori from some work of His more surely known to us.

Thomas Aquinas

Because we cannot know what God is, but only what He is not, we cannot consider how He is but only how He is not.

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.

Thomas Aquinas

God should not be called an individual substance, since the principal of individuation is matter.

Thomas Aquinas

Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.

Thomas Aquinas

Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.

Thomas Aquinas

Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works.

Thomas Aquinas

Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will.

Thomas Aquinas

To live well is to work well, to show a good activity.

Thomas Aquinas

Law is nothing other than a certain ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the person who has the care of the community.

Thomas Aquinas

Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.

Thomas Aquinas

Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.

Thomas Aquinas

Author Bio

  • NameThomas Aquinas
  • DescriptionItalian Dominican priest of the Roman Catholic Church
  • BornJanuary 28, 1225
  • DiedMarch 7, 1274
  • CountryItaly
  • ProfessionPhilosopher; Writer; Theologian; Friar
  • WorksSumma Theologica; Summa Contra Gentiles