Thomas Aquinas Quotes
-
Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.
-
If a man deliberately abstains from wine to such an extent that he does serious harm to his nature, he will not be free from blame.
-
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.
-
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.
-
When fear is excessive it can make many a man despair.
-
It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.
-
Beware of the person of one book.
-
So, to detract from the perfection of creatures is to detract from the perfection of divine power.
-
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.
-
I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.
-
First, I say that he draws near to those who make peace with him. For God is the One who brings about peace; and where else should peace dwell than in peace?
-
If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.
-
Mistakes are made on two counts: an argument is either based on error or incorrectly developed.
-
Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the recipient.