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Famous Thomas Aquinas Quotes

“The fact that the evil ones, as long as they live, can be corrected from their errors does not prohibit that they may be justly executed, for the danger which threatens from their way of life is greater and more certain than the good which may be expected from their improvement.”

WayMayLongDoeFactsLife IsCertainEvilGreaterDangerErrorsExpectedImprovementDeath Penalty
Book:Summa Contra Gentiles: Book 3: Providence
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“The apostles and their successors are God's vicars in governing the Church which is built on faith and the sacraments of faith. Wherefore, just as they may not institute another Church, so neither may they deliver another faith, nor institute other sacraments.”

MayChurchPowerfulBuiltCatholicSacramentsGoverningApostlesInstituteSuccessorsVicars
Book:Summa Theologica, Volume 4 (Part III, First Section)
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“It may well happen that what is in itself the more certain on account of the weakness of our intelligence, which is dazzled by the clearest objects of nature; as the owl is dazzled by the light of the sun. Hence the fact that some happen to doubt about articles of faith is not due to the uncertain nature of the truths, but to the weakness of human intelligence; yet the slenderest knowledge that may be obtained of the highest things is more desirable than the most certain knowledge obtained of lesser things.”

HumansWellsMayFactsLightHappensChristianCertainSunDoubtObjectsHighestWeaknessAccountsDuesOrthodoxArticlesUncertainDesirableOrthodox ChristianOwlHuman IntelligenceCertain Knowledge
Book:The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition
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“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.”

MenMayMeanDoeCharacterWould BeEvilTakenGoodnessNegativeSightMereSpeedAbsenceLionsDisplayBlindnessGoatsPossessingNegation
Book:Philosophical Texts
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“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.”

KnowsGivingHeartMayPurposeJesusUnderstandingChristLordJesus ChristEmbraceAffectionDragFaithfulnessOur LordDiligenceUnworthyTribulationSteadfast
Author:Thomas Aquinas
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