“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Beware the man of a single book.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The things that we love tell us what we are.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“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
“The soul is like an uninhabited world
that comes to life only when
God lays His head
against us.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is. ”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine”
― St.Thomas Aquinas
“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
“Better to illuminate than merely to shine to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“How is it they live in such harmony, the billions of stars, when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds?”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Wonder is the desire of knowledge.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.”
― Saint Thomas Aquinas
“Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.”
― Saint Thomas Aquinas
“Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“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
“Grant, O Lord my God, that I may never fall away in success or in failure; that I may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity. Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what separates us. May I strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except Yourself. May I see always the things that are eternal and never those that are only temporal. May I shun any joy that is without You and never seek any that is beside You. O Lord, may I delight in any work I do for You and tire of any rest that is apart from You. My God, let me direct my heart towards You, and in my failings, always repent with a purpose of amendment.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Love follows knowledge.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“There must be must be a first mover existing above all – and this we call God.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The study of truth requires a considerable effort – which is why few are willing to undertake it out of love of knowledge – despite the fact that God has implanted a natural appetite for such knowledge in the minds of men.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Obedience unites us so closely to God that it in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His.
If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men who devote their lives to contemplation.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Mercy without justice is the mother of dissolution; justice without mercy is cruelty.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“God is never angry for His sake, only for ours.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“While injustice is the worst of sins, despair is the most dangerous; because when you are in despair you care neither about yourself nor about others.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“A song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The happy man in this life needs friends.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“It is not theft, properly speaking, to take secretly and use another’s property in a case of extreme need: because that which he takes for the support of his life becomes his own property by reason of that need”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain. ”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The human mind may perceive truth only through thinking, as is clear from Augustine.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Nothing which implies contradiction falls under the omnipotence of God.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“Beware of the person of one book”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Man should not consider his material possessions as his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Many cry to the Lord that they may win riches, that they may avoid losses; they cry that their family may be established, they ask for temporal happiness, for worldly dignities; and, lastly, they cry for bodily health, which is the patrimony of the poor. For these and suchlike things many cry to the Lord; hardly one cries for the Lord Himself! How easy it is for a man to desire all manner of things from the Lord and yet not desire the Lord Himself! As though the gift could be sweeter than the Giver!”
― Thomas Aquinas
“Since faith rests upon infallible truth, and since the contrary of a truth can never be demonstrated, it is clear that the arguments brought against faith cannot be demonstrations, but are difficulties that can be answered.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“To love is to will the good of the other.”
― Saint Thomas Aquinas
“Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of sin and ignorance. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“If you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because he himself is the way.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“The existence of a prime mover- nothing can move itself; there must be a first mover. The first mover is called God.”
― Thomas Aquinas St.
“It must be said that charity can, in no way, exist along with mortal sin.”
― Thomas Aquinas
“God Himself is the rule and mode of virtue. Our faith is measured by divine truth, our hope by the greatness of His power and faithful affection, our charity by His goodness. His truth, power and goodness outreach any measure of reason. We can certainly never believe, trust or love God more than, or even as much as, we should. Extravagance is impossible. Here is no virtuous moderation, no measurable mean; the more extreme our activity, the better we are.”
― St. Thomas Aquinas
“The blessed in the kingdom of heaven will see the punishments of the damned, in order that their bliss be more delightful for them.”
― Thomas Aquinas