Quotes & anectdotes from
the wise,
the foolish,
the courageous &
the drunk

Thomas Aquinas Philosopher

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: Italy
  • Born: Jan 28, 1225
  • Died: Mar 7, 1274

Thomas Aquinas, OP, also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican friar and Catholic priest and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the "Doctor Angelicus" and "Doctor Communis". "Aquinas" is from the county of Aquino, an area where his family held land until 1137. He was born in Roccasecca, Italy.

He was the foremost classical proponent of natural theology, and the father of Thomism. His influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern philosophy was conceived in development or opposition of his ideas, particularly in the areas of ethics, natural law, metaphysics, and political theory. Unlike many currents in the Church of the time, Thomas embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle — whom he referred to as "the Philosopher" — and attempted to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity. The works for which he is best known are the Summa Theologica and the Summa contra Gentiles. His commentaries on Sacred Scripture and on Aristotle are an important part of his body of work.

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.

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

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

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

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.

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

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

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

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

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

Wonder is the desire for knowledge.

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.

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

It is possible to demonstrate God's existence, although not a priori, yet a posteriori from some work of His more surely known to us.

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

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

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

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

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

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