InspiringQuotes

Thomas Aquinas Quotes:

Thomas Aquinas quotes

Ocupation: Priest

Life: January 28, 1225 - March 7, 1274

Birthday: January 28

Death: March 7

famous quotes

Law has the power to compel: indeed, the ability to enforce is a condition of the ability to command.

Topics: Law, Ability, Command

Quotation Thomas Aquinas The things that we love tell us what we are Quotes

In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance.

Topics: Spiritual, Men, Medicine

Quotation Thomas Aquinas He who is not angry when there is just cause Quotes

Eternity is called whole, not because it has parts, but because it is lacking in nothing.

Topics: Eternity, Lacking

Quotation Thomas Aquinas For those with faith no evidence is necessary for those Quotes

To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.

Topics: Philosophical, Hands, Catholic

Quotation Thomas Aquinas Grant me O Lord my God a mind to know Quotes

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.

Topics: Catholic, Matter, Dogma

Quotation Thomas Aquinas The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists Quotes

The things that we love tell us what we are.

Topics: Love, Greatness, Catholic

Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.

Topics: Character, Passion, Mind

To pretend angels do not exist because they are invisible is to believe we never sleep because we don't see ourselves sleeping.

Topics: Inspirational, Believe, Sleep

If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.

Topics: Catholic, Saint, Way, If Then

To love God is something greater than to know Him.

Topics: Faith, Inspiration, God Love, Catholic Saint

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

Topics: Philosophical, Thoughtful, Love Is, Madly In Love

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

Topics: Faith, Love Is, Thoughtful, Faith And Family, Agnosticism

Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.

Topics: Believe, Scary, Religion, Infallible

The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross.

Topics: Jesus, Sacrifice, Celebration, Holy Mass

It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.

Topics: Inspirational, Peace, Thoughtful, Natural Law, Resting And Relaxation

Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.

Topics: Faith, Hope, Philosophical, Catholic Faith

In the realm of evil thoughts none induces to sin as much as do thoughts that concern the pleasure of the flesh.

Topics: Evil, Catholic, Flesh, Chastity Purity, Evil Thoughts

Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.

Topics: Spiritual, Men, Addiction, Spiritual Joy, Depriving

To love is to will the good of the other.

source: - "Summa Theologica". Book by Thomas Aquinas, II-II, q. 26, art. 6, 1265 - 1274.

Topics: Love, Love Is

Wonder is the desire of knowledge.

Topics: Desire, Wonder

For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.

Topics: Evidence

Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins.

Topics: Wise, Wisdom, Evil

I receive Thee ransom of my soul. For love of Thee have I studied and kept vigil toiled preached and taught…

Topics: Soul, Taught, Ransom

The existence of a prime mover- nothing can move itself; there must be a first mover. The first mover is called God.

Topics: Moving, Firsts, Prime

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.

Topics: Love, Philosophical, Thoughtful, Inspirational Romance, Natural Law

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

Topics: Friendship, Philosophical, Real Friends, Without Friends, Tedious

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.

Topics: Patience, Perfection, Done

Beware of the person of one book.

Topics: Reading, Book, Philosophical

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

Topics: Friendship, Relationship, Philosophical, Songs And Friendship, Inspirational Friendship

Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.

source: - "Summa Theologica". Book by Thomas Aquinas (Part II-II, Question 188), 1485.

Topics: Thoughtful, Love Is, Shining, Illuminating

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

Topics: Live Well, Shows, Wells

Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.

Topics: People, Liberty, Inappropriate

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 about someone they know.

Topics: Stars, War, Thoughtful, Declaring War

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.

Topics: Perseverance, Heart, Waiting, Waiting For You, Catholic Saint

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

Topics: Men, Willpower, Virtue, Virtue And Happiness, Secured

Whatever a man has in superabundance is owed, of natural right, to the poor for their sustenance. So Ambrosius says, and it is also to be found in the Decretum Gratiani: The bread which you withhold belongs to the hungry: the clothing you shut away, to the naked: and the money you bury in the earth is the redemption and freedom of the penniless.

Topics: Men, Redemption, Charity, Sustenance, Jewish Community

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

Topics: Support, Use, Needs

The Blessed Eucharist is the perfect Sacrament of the Lord's Passion, since It contains Christ Himself and his Passion.

Topics: Faith, Blessed, Inspiration, Eucharistic, Catholic Saint

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.

Topics: Love, Fear, Philosophy, Awe And Wonder

Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.

Topics: Ethos, Unity, Church, Identical, Catholic Faith

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.

Topics: Powerful, Heart, Compassion, Powerful Emotions

When the devil is called the god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldliness.

Topics: Devil, World, Made, Worldliness

Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace.

Topics: Peace, Justice, Charity, Peace Justice, Peace And Justice

Reason in man is rather like God in the world.

Topics: Knowledge, Men, World

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.

source: - "The Soul of a Nation: Culture, Morality, Law, Education, Faith". Book by Bernard J. Coughlin, p. 27, 2012.

Topics: Believe, Thoughtful, Love Is

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.

Topics: Opinion, Share, Findings

All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.

Topics: Philosophical, Thoughtful, Love Is, Catholic Saint

We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.

Topics: Believe, May, Saint, Catholic Faith

Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the recipient.

Topics: Philosophical

One faith, St. Paul writes (Eph. 4:5). Hold most firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church ... We must hold this for certain, namely: that the faith of the people at the present day is one with the faith of the people in past centuries. Were this not true, then we would be in a different church than they were in and, literally, the Church would not be One.

Topics: Writing, Past, People

Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, every creed. In fact Angels have no religion as we know it... Their existence precedes every religious system that has ever existed on Earth...

source: - Source: www.biblegateway.com

Topics: Religious, Philosophy, Angel, Angels On Earth

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

Topics: Law, Community, Care, Natural Law, Common Good

Love follows knowledge.

An angel can illumine the thought and mind of man by strengthening the power of vision and by bringing within his reach some truth which the angel himself contemplates.

Topics: Angel, Men, Mind, Guardian Angel, My Angel

Without sanctifying grace it is not possible to refrain long from mortal sin.

Topics: Long, Grace, Sin, Mortal Sin

To virginity is awarded the tribute of the highest beauty

Topics: Tribute, Virginity

God destines us for an end beyond the grasp of reason.

Topics: Reason, Ends

Just as a man cannot live in the flesh unless he is born in the flesh, even so a man cannot have the spiritual life of grace unless he is born again spiritually. This regeneration is effected by Baptism: "Unless a man is born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5)

Topics: Spiritual, Men, Water

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.

Topics: Thoughtful, Love Is, Punishment

It must be said that charity can, in no way, exist along with mortal sin.

Topics: Way, Charity, Sin, Mortal Sin

The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . .Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil.

Topics: Fighting, Numbers, Errors

There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning.

Topics: Soul, Thirst

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.

Topics: Love, Spiritual, Produce, Eucharist, Sacraments

The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in His divinity, assumed our nature, so that He, made man, might make men gods.

Topics: Son, Men, Catholic

The magnitude of the punishment matches the magnitude of the sin. Now a sin that is against God is infinite; the higher the person against whom it is committed, the graver the sin-it is more criminal to strike a head of state than a private citizen-and God is of infinite greatness. Therefore an infinite punishment is deserved for a sin committed against Him.

Topics: Greatness, Punishment, Citizens

Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.

Topics: Believe, Grace, Catholic

Without doubt one is allowed to resist against the unjust aggressor to one's life, one's goods or one's physical integrity; sometimes, even 'til the aggressor's death... In fact, this act is aimed at preserving one's life or one's goods and to make the aggressor powerless. Thus, it is a good act, which is the right of the victim.

Topics: Integrity, Gun, Doubt

The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is.

Topics: Philosophy, Men, May

Beware the man of a single book.

Topics: Book, Men, Limitation

A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.

Topics: Thoughtful, Love Is, Men, Free Choice

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.

Topics: Mean, Omission, Catholic, Confessing, Contrition

All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said has its origin in the Spirit.

Topics: Philosophical, Spirit, Said

If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.

Topics: Softball, Forever, Captains

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.

Topics: Life, Freedom, Inspire

Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain.

Topics: Men, Choices, Would Be, Free Choice, Reward And Punishment

There is but one Church in which men find salvation, just as outside the ark of Noah it was not possible for anyone to be saved.

Topics: Men, Church, Ark

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.

Topics: Prayer, Way, Obedience

Moral science is better occupied when treating of friendship than of justice.

Topics: Friendship, Philosophical, Justice

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

Topics: Philosophical, Evil, Catholic

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

Topics: Suffering, Saint, Danger, Acts Of Courage

For in order that man may do well, whether in the works of the active life, or in those of the contemplative life, he needs the fellowship of friends.

Topics: Men, Order, May, Active Life, Contemplative Life

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.

Topics: Art, Work, Lying, Human Resources

Bestow upon me, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee.

Topics: Understanding, May, Faithfulness

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.

Mercy without justice is the mother of dissolution; justice without mercy is cruelty.

Topics: Mother, Justice, Mercy

The world of pure spirits stretches between the divine nature and the world of human beings; because divine wisdom has ordained that the higher should look after the lower, angels execute the divine plan for human salvation: they are our guardians, who free us when hindered and help to bring us home.

Topics: Angel, Home, Looks, Divine Wisdom, Guardian Angel

Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason.

Topics: Philosophical, Demand, Reason, Disclosure, Surpassing

Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.

Topics: Grace, Doe

What does it take to become a saint? Will it.

Topics: Catholic, Saint, Doe

Charity is the form, mover, mother and root of all the virtues.

Topics: Mother, Roots, Charity

The knowledge of God is the cause of things. For the knowledge of God is to all creatures what the knowledge of the artificer is to things made by his art.

Topics: Art, Causes, Made

Grace is a certain beginning of glory in us.

Topics: Grace, Glory, Certain

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

Topics: Sympathy, Sleep, Wine, Keynes, Best Wine

The soul is like an uninhabited world that comes to life only when God lays His head against us.

Topics: God, Soul, World

The Sacrament of the Body of the Lord puts the demons to flight, defends us against the incentives to vice and to concupiscence, cleanses the soul from sin, quiets the anger of God, enlightens the understanding to know God, inflames the will and the affections with the love of God, fills the memory with spiritual sweetness, confirms the entire man in good, frees us from eternal death, multiplies the merits of a good life, leads us to our everlasting home, and re-animates the body to eternal life

Topics: Spiritual, Memories, Good Life

By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.

Topics: Equality, Men, Liberty, Liberty And Equality, Equality For All

This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win all the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

Topics: Forgiveness, Winning, Blood

Pray thee, spare, thyself at times: for it becomes a wise man sometimes to relax the high pressure of his attention to work.

Topics: Wise, Men, Relax

The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead.

Topics: Judging, Christ, Confession, Delegates

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.

Topics: Jesus, Heart, Giving, Steadfast

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth.

Topics: Sheep, Two, Suffering, Great Patience

Baptism is not to be conferred on a man who is unwilling to give up his other sins, so neither should Baptism be given to one who is unwilling to renounce his unbelief. Nevertheless, each of them receives the Sacrament if it is conferred on him, although not unto salvation.

Topics: Giving Up, Men, Baptism

Right faith is of necessity required for Baptism, since it is said: "the justice of God is by faith in Jesus Christ" (Romans 3:22) ... Therefore, Baptism without faith avails nothing and thus we must recall that without faith no one is acceptable to God.

Topics: Jesus, Justice, Baptism, Faith In Jesus, Justice Of God

[It is appropriate that the Body and Blood of Christ be truly present in this Sacrament] because of the perfection of the New Covenant. The sacrifices of the Old Covenant contained the true sacrifice of Christ's Passion only in symbol....Therefore it was necessary that the sacrifice of the New Covenant, instituted by Christ, have something more, namely, that it contain Christ Himself who has suffered and contain Him not only in symbol but in reality.

Topics: Passion, Sacrifice, Reality

Here 'neath veils, my Saviour darkly I behold; To my thirsting spirit all thy light unfold; Face to face in heaven let me come to thee, And the blessed vision of thy glory see.

Topics: Blessed, Light, Heaven

The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God.

Topics: Faith, Inspiration, Men

Whatever a man has in superabundance is owed, of natural right, to the poor for their sustenance.

Topics: Men, Charity, Natural

He who is dying of hunger must be fed rather than taught.

Topics: Dying, Taught, Hunger

Art is right reason in the doing of work.

Topics: Art, Reason, Art Is

But man is freer than all the animals, on account of his free-will, with which he is endowed above all other animals.

Topics: Men, Animal, Free Will

Don't ask who said it? Ask what they said.

Topics: Wisdom, Culture, Said

Jesus Lord, kind Pelican, Cleanse my filth with Thy blood, One drop of which can save The whole world from all its sin

Topics: Jesus, Blood, World, Pelicans

It seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the word "God" means that He is infinite goodness. If, therefore, God existed, there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist.

Topics: Mean, Two, Evil

Baptism is the Sacrament of Faith. Now, dead faith does not suffice for salvation .. .Therefore, the Sacrament of Baptism cannot give salvation to a man whose will ... expels the form of faith.

Topics: Men, Giving, Baptism

There is no leisure about politics.

Topics: Leisure

He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.

Topics: Justice, Unjust, Causes

If someone knows from experience that daily Communion increases fervor without lessening reverence, then let him go every day. But if someone finds that reverence is lessened and devotion not much increased, then let him sometimes abstain, so as to draw near afterwards with better dispositions.

Topics: Sometimes, Devotion, Holy, Holy Communion, Fervor

O how unspeakable is this Sacrament which sets our affections ablaze with charity. ... It is the fulfillment of Christ's Mystical Body.

Topics: Charity, Body, Affection, Sacraments

Godhead here in hiding, whom I adore Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art

Topics: Art, Lying, Shadow

Being born he have himself as our Companion, Eating with us he gave himself as Food, Dying He became our Ransom, Reigning he gives himself as our Reward

Topics: Giving, Dying, Ransom

The Bread of angels has become the Bread of mankind; This heavenly Bread puts an end to all images; O wonderful reality! The poor, the slave, and the humble can eat the Lord.

Topics: Humble, Angel, Reality

He that obstinately denieth the truth before men upon earth, wilfully refuseth his soul's health in heaven.

Topics: Men, Heaven, Soul

I cannot understand how anyone conscious of mortal sin can laugh or be merry.

Topics: Laughing, Sin, Conscious, Mortal Sin

Any error about creation also leads to an error about God.

Topics: Errors, Creation

Venial sin becomes mortal sin when one approves it as an end. . .

Topics: Sin, Mortal Sin, Ends

My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne - John Maynard Keynes Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine

Topics: Regret, Wine, Sleep

"The Jews should not be allowed to keep what they have obtained from others by usury; it were best that they were compelled to worked so that they could earn their living instead of doing nothing but becoming avaricious."

Topics: Usury, Doing Nothing, Becoming, Compelled

Of all the pursuits open to men, the search for wisdom is most perfect, more sublime, more profitable, and more full of joy.

Topics: Philosophy, Men, Perfect

Charity is not a potency of the soul, because if it were it would be natural. Nor is it a passion, because it is not in a sensitive potency in which are all passions. Nor is it a habit, because a habit is removed with difficulty; charity, however, is easily lost through one act of mortal sin. Therefore charity is not something created in the soul.

Topics: Passion, Soul, Would Be, Mortal Sin

Future contingents cannot be certain to us, because we know them as such. They can be certain only to God whose understanding is in eternity above time. Just as a man going along a road does not see those who come after him; but the man who sees the whole road from a height sees all those who are going along the road at the same time.

Topics: Men, Understanding, Doe

O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below, Our foes press on from every side, Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

Topics: Men, Heaven, Saving, Gates Of Heaven

The human race was in need of salvation because of the perversity of sin. For when people who are ill are cured from their illness, they are called "saved." Therefore, the Lord says: "Your faith has saved you.

Topics: Race, People, Needs, Perversity

We ought to cherish the body. Our body's substance is not from an evil principle, as the Manicheans imagine, but from God. And therefore, we ought to cherish the body by the friendship of love, by which we love God.

Topics: Evil, Substance, Body

No man truly has joy unless he lives in love.

Topics: Men, Joy

The splendor of a soul in grace is so seductive that it surpasses the beauty of all created things.

Topics: Seductive, Soul, Grace

The highest perfection of human life consists in the mind of man being detached from care, for the sake of God.

Topics: Men, Perfection, Mind

Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail.

Topics: Fall, Grace, Sacred

Charity, by which God and neighbor are loved, is the most perfect friendship.

Topics: Perfect, Charity, Neighbor, Perfect Friendship

We can open our hearts to God, but only with Divine help.

Topics: Heart, Helping, Divine, Divine Help

It is on account neither of God's weakness nor ignorance that evil comes into the world, but rather it is due to the order of his wisdom and the greatness of his goodness that diverse grades of goodness occur in things, many of which would be lacking if no evil were permitted. Indeed, the good of patience would not exist without the evil of persecution; nor the good of preservation of life in a lion if not for the evil of the destruction of the animals on which it lives.

Topics: Ignorance, Animal, Greatness

Suppose a person entering a house were to feel heat on the porch, and going further, were to feel the heat increasing, the more they penetrated within. Doubtless, such a person would believe there was a fire in the house, even though they did not see the fire that must be causing all this heat. A similar thing will happen to anyone who considers this world in detail: one will observe that all things are arranged according to their degrees of beauty and excellence, and that the nearer they are to God, the more beautiful and better they are.

Topics: Beautiful, Believe, Fire

What can be accomplished by a few principles is not effected by many. But it seems that everything we see in the world can be accounted for by other principles, supposing God did not exist. For all natural things can be reduced to one principle, which is nature, and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle, which is human reason, or will. Therefore there is no need to suppose God's existence.

Topics: Atheism, Needs, World, Natural Things, Human Reason

The fire of hell is called eternal, only because it never ends. Still, there is change in the pains of the lost...Hence in hell true eternity does not exist, but rather time.

Topics: Pain, Fire, Doe

Not everyone who is enlightened by an angel knows that he is enlightened by him.

Topics: Angel, Enlightened

To be united to God in unity of person was not fitting to human flesh, according to its natural endowments, since it was above his dignity; nevertheless, it was fitting that God, by reason of his infinite goodness, should unite it to himself for human salvation.

Topics: Unity, Flesh, Dignity, Natural Endowment, Not Fitting

The image of God always abides in the soul, whether this image be obsolete and clouded over as to amount to almost nothing; or whether it be obscured or disfigured, as is the case with sinners; or whether it be clear and beautiful as is the case with the just.

Topics: Beautiful, Soul, Cases, Clouded

Charity is love; not all love is charity.

Topics: Love Is, Charity

Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members; even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church.

Topics: Believe, Men, Soul, Catholic Church

Pain itself can be pleasurable accidentally in so far as it is accompanied by wonder, as in stage-plays; or in so far as it recalls a beloved object to one's memory, and makes one feel one's love for the thing, whose absence gives us pain. Consequently, since love is pleasant, both pain and whatever else results from love, in so far as they remind us of our love, are pleasant.

Topics: Pain, Memories, Love Is, Stage Play

Grace renders us like God and a partaker of the divine nature.

Topics: Grace, Divine, Divine Nature

Mistakes are made on two counts: an argument is either based on error or incorrectly developed.

Topics: Mistake, Two, Errors

Whenever God wakes in us, our thinking becomes clear - nothing is missing.

Topics: Thinking, Missing, Clear

Evil denotes the lack of good. Not every absence of good is an evil, for absence may be taken either in a purely negative or in aprivative sense. Mere negation does not display the character of evil, otherwise nonexistents would be evil and moreover, a thing would be evil for not possessing the goodness of something else, which would mean that man is bad for not having the strength of a lion or the speed of a wild goat. But what is evil is privation; in this sense blindness means the privation of sight.

Topics: Taken, Character, Mean

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.

Topics: Animal, Men, Use, Divine Providence

It is unlawful to add anything to the words of Holy Scripture regarding the sense.

Topics: Catholic, Scripture, Add, Unlawful

The soul, which is the first principle of life, is not a body, but the act of a body; just as heat, which is the principle of calefaction, is not a body, but an act of a body.

Topics: Soul, Body, Firsts

Faith is God's work within us.

Topics: Faith

Sacred Scripture, since it has no science above itself, can dispute with one who denies its principles only if the opponent admits some at least of the truths obtained through divine revelation; thus we can argue with heretics from texts in Holy Writ, and against those who deny one article of faith we can argue from another. If our opponent believes nothing of divine revelation, there is no longer any means of proving the articles of faith by reasoning, but only of answering his objections - if he has any - against faith.

Topics: Christian, Believe, Mean, Divine Revelation, Sacred Scripture

It would be superfluous to receive by faith, things that can be known by natural reason

Topics: Would Be, Reason, Natural

To disparage the dictate of reason is equivalent to contemning the command of God.

Topics: God, Reason, Command

Man is closer to God according to his existence in grace than he is according to his existence in nature.

Topics: Men, Grace, Existence

Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory, Of His Flesh, the mystery sing; Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our Immortal King, Destined, for the world's redemption, From a noble Womb to spring.

Topics: Jesus, Kings, Spring, Saviour

It would seem that zeal is not an effect of love. For zeal is a beginning of contention.

Topics: Zeal, Contention

See to whom Jesus is drawing near, three kinds of people: to those who make peace with him, to those who are devoted to God, and to those who are kind to their neighbors.

Topics: Jesus, Drawing, People, Devoted

Behold our refutation of the error. It is not based on documents of faith, but on the reasons and statements of the philosophers themselves. If then anyone there be who, boastfully taking pride in his supposed wisdom, wishes to challenge what we have written, let him not do it in some corner nor before children who are powerless to decide on such difficult matters. Let him reply openly if he dare. He shall find me there confronting him, and not only my negligible self, but many another whose study is truth.

Topics: Children, Pride, Self, If Then

The soul is known by it's acts.

Topics: Soul

I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.

Topics: Thinking, Compassion, Gains, Personal Gain

The Cross to me is certain salvation. The Cross is that which I ever adore. The Cross of the Lord is with me. The Cross is my refuge.

Topics: Christianity, Lord, Salvation

Do not wish to jump immediately from the streams to the sea, because one has to go through easier things to the more difficult.

Topics: Sea, Wish, Christianity

Humility is the mark of a genuine disciple.

Topics: Humility, Humble, Genuine

Even as in heaven there will be most perfect charity, so in hell there will be the most perfect hate.

Topics: Inspirational Life, Hate, Perfect

In questions of this sort there are two things to be observed. First, that the truth of the Scriptures be inviolably maintained. Secondly, since Scripture doth admit of diverse interpretations, that no one cling to any particular exposition with such pertinacity that, if what he supposed to be the teaching of Scripture should afterward turn out to be clearly false, he should nevertheless still presume to put it forward, lest thereby the sacred Scriptures should be exposed to the derision of unbelievers and the way of salvation should be closed to them.

Topics: Teaching, Two, Sacred, Derision, Sacred Scripture

One aspect of neighbourly love is that we must not merely will our neighbours good, but actually work to bring it about.

Topics: Love Is, Aspect, Neighbour

Nothing which implies contradiction falls under the omnipotence of God.

Topics: Fall, Omnipotence, Contradiction

I can write no more. All that I have written seems like straw.

Topics: Writing

One day when Thomas Aquinas was preaching to the local populace on the love of God, he saw an old woman listening attentively to his every word. And inspired by her eagerness to learn more about her God whom she loved so dearly, he said to the people: It is better to be this unlearned woman, loving God with all her heart, than the most learned theologian lacking love.

Topics: Heart, People, Listening

The end of every maker is himself.

Topics: Self, Makers, Ends

Given the sin of impiety through which they [the Romans] sinned against the divine nature [by idolatry], the punishment that led them to sin against their own nature followed.... I say, therefore, that since they changed into lies [by idolatry] the truth about God, He brought them to ignominious passions, that is, to sins against nature; not that God led them to evil, but only that he abandoned them to evil....

Topics: Christian, Lying, Passion, Divine Nature

If all the sins of the flesh are worthy of condemnation because by them man allows himself to be dominated by that which he has of the animal nature, much more deserving of condemnation are the sins against nature by which man degrades his own animal nature....

Topics: Christian, Men, Animal, Sins Of The Flesh

Man can sin against nature in two ways. First, when he sins against his specific rational nature, acting contrary to reason. In this sense, we can say that every sin is a sin against man's nature, because it is against man's right reason....

Topics: Christian, Men, Two

Secondly, man sins against nature when he goes against his generic nature, that is to say, his animal nature. Now, it is evident that, in accord with natural order, the union of the sexes among animals is ordered towards conception. From this it follows that every sexual intercourse that cannot lead to conception is opposed to man's animal nature.

Topics: Christian, Sex, Animal

Practical sciences proceed by building up; theoretical science by resolving into components.

Topics: Science, Statistics, Building

The light of faith makes us see what we believe.

Topics: Believe, Light, Statistics

The celestial bodies are the cause of all that takes place in the sublunar world.

Topics: Astrology, Body, Causes, Celestial, Celestial Bodies

If there were some solitary or feral man, the passions of the soul would be sufficient for him; by them he would be conformed to things in order that he might have knowledge of them. But because man is naturally political and social, there is need for one man to make his conceptions known to others, which is done with speech. So significant speech was needed if men were to live together. Which is why those of different tongues do not easily live together.

Topics: Communication, Passion, Men

Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.

Topics: Deny

The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists in leading him from error to truth.

Topics: Kindness, Men, Errors

Nothing created has ever been able to fill the heart of man. God alone can fill it infinitely.

Topics: Heart, Men, Able

It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.

Topics: Men

God has no need for our worship. It is we who need to show our gratitude for what we have received.

source: - Saint Thomas (Aquinas) (1955). “Theological texts”

Topics: Gratitude, Thankfulness, Needs

The things we love tell us who we are.

Topics: Who We Are

There can be no joy in living without joy in work.

Topics: Happiness, Work, Joy, Joy In Work

The soul is perfected by knowledge and virtue.

source: - Saint Thomas Aquinas, Aeterna Press (2015). “Of God and His Creatures”, p.188, Aeterna Press

Topics: Soul, Virtue

He (Mohammed) seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh urges us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected; he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom. Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity.

Topics: Teaching, Men, Religion Of Islam, Islam Is Peace, Reins

One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.

Topics: Evil, Use, Action

True peace consists in not separating ourselves from the will of God.

Topics: Adversity, Gods Will, True Peace, Separating

A man's heart is right when he wills what God wills.

Topics: Heart, Men, Gods Will

We set forth our petitions before God, not in order to make known to Him our needs and desires, but rather so that we ourselves may realize that in these things it is necessary to turn to God for help.

Topics: Order, Desire, Needs, Turn To God

We should love others truly, for their own sakes rather than our own.

source: - Saint Thomas (Aquinas) (1955). “Theological texts”

Topics: Sake, Should

God himself would not permit evil in this world if good did not come of it for the benefit and harmony of the universe.

Topics: Evil, Benefits, World

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