Thomas Aquinas Quotes
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One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.
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Because the divine goodness could not be adequately represented by one creature alone, God produced many and diverse creatures, that what was wanting in one in the representation of the divine goodness might be supplied by another. For goodness, which in God is simple and uniform, in creatures is manifold and divided. Thus the whole universe together participates in the divine goodness more perfectly and represents it better than any single creature.
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It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.
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Charity is love; not all love is charity.
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When fear is excessive it can make many a man despair.
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Whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.
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It is due to neither impotence nor ignorance on God’s part that evils occur in the world, but it is owing to the order of his wisdom and to the greatness of his goodness, whence come the many and divers grades of goodness in things, many of which would be lacking were he to allow no evil to exist. Thus there would be no good of patience without the evil of persecution, nor the good of the preservation of its life in a lion, without the evil of the destruction of the animals on which it lives.
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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.
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So, to detract from the perfection of creatures is to detract from the perfection of divine power.
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I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.
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Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the recipient.
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Beware of the person of one book.
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Mistakes are made on two counts: an argument is either based on error or incorrectly developed.
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Sin is a spiritual illness; thus sinners are in need of salvation.