Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) was a medieval Italian philosopher, theologian, and Dominican friar. He is recognized as the leading theological authority within the Roman Catholic Church—his philosophies regarding human rights and natural law, derived from Aristotelianism, prevail at the heart of the Catholic canon even today.
Aquinas is regarded as the most significant medieval figure of scholasticism. He reconciled the faith of Christian theology with Aristotelian reason. His incomplete Summa Theologica (1266–73) made intellectual arguments for the existence of God based on reason and observation—Aquinas’s “five proofs” are generally seen as genuine arguments for the reality of God.
Aquinas wrote some 60 works; in addition to his theological writings, Aquinas wrote such philosophical works as On Being and Essence (De ente et essentia, ad fratres socios, 1252–56,) On the Principles of Nature (De principiis naturae ad fratrem Sylvestrum, c.1255,) and Disputed Questions on Truth (Quaestiones disputatae de Veritate, 1256–59.) Aquinas’s many commentaries on Aristotle introduced Aristotelianism to Christian Western Europe.
Aquinas died on a journey to a church council in Lyons after being knocked from his donkey when it scurried under a low tree limb. According to legend, the donkey died of regret.
Aquinas was canonized in 1323; his feast day is January 28.
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Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
—Thomas Aquinas
Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Reason
Well-ordered self-love is right and natural.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Self-love, Love
By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Equality
Art is simply a right method of doing things. The test of the artist does not lie in the will with which he goes to work, but in the excellence of the work he produces.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Art
Repeticio est mater studiorum.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Education
When fear is excessive it can make many a man despair.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Fear
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 more apt for contemplation.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Action
Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Philosophy, Philosophers
Far graver is it to corrupt the faith that is the life of the soul than to counterfeit the money that sustains temporal life.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Belief, Faith
Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.
—Thomas Aquinas
Charity brings to life again those who are spiritually dead.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Charity
Beware of the person of one book.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Reading, Books
In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause. Thirdly, a rightful intention.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Authority
The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Self-reliance, Independence
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Explanation, Faith
A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Reason
Faith is God’s work within us.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Belief, Faith
I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: One liners, Compassion
Among all human pursuits, the pursuit of wisdom is more perfect, more noble, more useful, and more full of joy.
—Thomas Aquinas
To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Patience
The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Religion
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Will Power, Willpower, Will
Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.
—Thomas Aquinas
He who is dying of hunger must be fed rather than taught.
—Thomas Aquinas
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Friendship
Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Community
Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Character
To live well is to work well, to show a good activity.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Action
Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.
—Thomas Aquinas
Topics: Friends and Friendship, Friendship
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