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Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas Quotes

Priest

Thomas Aquinas, born on January 28, 1225 and died on March 7, 1274, was a renowned theologian, philosopher, and priest. He is considered one of the greatest theologians of the Middle Ages and his works have had a profound impact on philosophy and theology.

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All Men Powerful Ifs Sin Catholic Doe Saint Reason Knows Love Is Sacraments Humans Divine Evil Needs Philosophical World Charity Christian May

Famous Thomas Aquinas Quotes

“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.”

Ifs Men Christian Sin Animal Historical Worthy Flesh Deserving Condemnation Degrade Sins Of The Flesh

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“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.”

Men Way Firsts Two Reason Christian Sin Acting Historical Contrary Rational Two Ways

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“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.”

Men Christian Order Sex Natural Sin Animal Unions Historical Conception Evident Accord Intercourse Generic Natural Order

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“Sloth is sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good...it is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds.”

Ifs Men Mind Evil Effects Draws Deeds Neglect Good Deeds Sloth

Book:The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition

Source: The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition

“A man should remind himself that an object of faith is not scientifically demonstrable, lest presuming to demonstrate what is of faith, he should produce inconclusive reasons and offer occasion for unbelievers to scoff at a faith based on such ground.”

Men Should Reason Faith Objects Produce Offers Occasions Unbelievers Faith Based Presuming

Book:Philosophical Texts

Source: Philosophical Texts

“To restore man, who had been laid low by sin, to the heights of divine glory, the Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small. This He did not by putting aside His greatness but by taking to Himself our littleness.”

Men Father Sin Greatness Divine Eternal Lows Glory All Things Height Containing Immensity

Book:Aquinas’s Shorter Summa

Source: Aquinas’s Shorter Summa

“It [covetousness] is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things.”

Men Sin Eternal Greed Sake Mortals Mortal Sin Temporal Things

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“Now this relaxation of the mind from work consists on playful words or deeds. Therefore it becomes a wise and virtuous man to have recourse to such things at times.”

Men Mind Wise Deeds Virtuous Relaxation Recourse

Book:Summa Theologica, Volume 4 (Part III, First Section)

Source: Summa Theologica, Volume 4 (Part III, First Section)

“It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.”

Author:Thomas Aquinas

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

Men Spiritual Joy Spirituality Pleasure Catholic Addiction Deprived Depriving Spiritual Joy

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“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.”

Men Needs Should Powerful Common Share Materials Possession Hesitation Aggravation Material Possessions

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“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.”

Knows Men Mind War Stars Love Is Powerful Minutes Harmony Billions Thoughtful Declaring Declaring War

Author:Thomas Aquinas

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

Men Reason Choices Love Is Powerful Rational Thoughtful Rationality Free Choice

Book:Philosophical Texts

Source: Philosophical Texts

“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.”

Knows Men Believe Desire Three Love Is Ought Catholic Salvation Thoughtful Three Things

Author:Thomas Aquinas

“Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.”

Men Mind Doe Certain Justice Powerful Positive Ought Circumstances Confronting Rectitude

Author:Thomas Aquinas

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

Men Virtue Security Willpower Secured Virtue And Happiness

Book:St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophical Texts

Source: St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophical Texts

“Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.”

Men Reason Seems Catholic Faith And Reason

Book:St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophical Texts

Source: St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophical Texts

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

Men Sometimes Attention Wise Praying Pressure Thee Relax Spares Thyself

Book:The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition

Source: The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition

“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.”

Men Church Salvation Saint Saved Ark

Book:The Aquinas Catechism: A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith by the Church's Greatest Theologian

Source: The Aquinas Catechism: A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith by the Church's Greatest Theologian

“It is clear that he does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir the man in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will what the man in us wills.”

Men Doe Christian Religion Prayer Clear Praying Uplifting Resorts

Author:Thomas Aquinas

About the Author

Born: January 28, 1225
Died: March 7, 1274
Known for: Priest
Quotes: 344

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Men Powerful Ifs Sin Catholic Doe Saint Reason Knows Love Is Sacraments Humans Divine Evil Needs Philosophical World Charity Christian May

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Books & Sources

Theological textsRelated source material

The Summa Theologica: Complete EditionRelated source material

Philosophical TextsRelated source material

St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophical TextsRelated source material

Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas: Volume OneRelated source material

Summa Theologica, Volume 4 (Part III, First Section)Related source material

The Academic Sermons (The Fathers of the Church, Mediaeval Continuation, Volume 11)Related source material

Summa Theologica, Volume 1Related source material

Summa Theologica, Volume 3 (Part II, Second Section)Related source material

Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Volume 2Related source material

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