Thomas Aquinas Quotes
Thomas Aquinas was a 13th-century Italian Dominican friar and philosopher, the most influential figure of medieval scholasticism. His Summa Theologica, left unfinished at his death, is the most ambitious systematic synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology in the Western tradition. The quotes below are attributed to Thomas Aquinas, organized by topic.
Thomas Aquinas on Freedom
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“By nature all men are equal in liberty, but not in other endowments.”
Thomas Aquinas on God
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not at hand.”
Thomas Aquinas on Justice
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.”
Thomas Aquinas on Knowledge
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“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.”
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“Wonder is the desire for knowledge.”
Thomas Aquinas on Life
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions.”
Thomas Aquinas on Love
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“The things that we love tell us what we are.”
-
Attributed to Thomas Aquinas:
“Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.”