Thomas Aquinas Quotes - Page 3

The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is.

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.

We set forth our petitions before God, not in order to make known to Him our needs and desires, but rather so that we ourselves may realize that in these things it is necessary to turn to God for help.

In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance.

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

Christ was either liar, lunatic, or Lord!

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.

Better to illuminate than merely to shine; to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.

When the devil is called the god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldliness.

Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.

What does it take to become a saint? Will it.

See to whom Jesus is drawing near, three kinds of people: to those who make peace with him, to those who are devoted to God, and to those who are kind to their neighbors.

To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer.

God destines us for an end beyond the grasp of reason.

God himself would not permit evil in this world if good did not come of it for the benefit and harmony of the universe.

The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God.

Suppose a person entering a house were to feel heat on the porch, and going further, were to feel the heat increasing, the more they penetrated within. Doubtless, such a person would believe there was a fire in the house, even though they did not see the fire that must be causing all this heat. A similar thing will happen to anyone who considers this world in detail: one will observe that all things are arranged according to their degrees of beauty and excellence, and that the nearer they are to God, the more beautiful and better they are.

Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, every creed. In fact Angels have no religion as we know it... Their existence precedes every religious system that has ever existed on Earth.

He who achieves power by violence does not truly become lord or master.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth.

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

The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . .Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil.

Unbelief is the greatest of sins.

Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.

Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.