Thomas Aquinas Quotes

Every truth without exception- and whoever may utter it- is from the Holy Spirit.

First, I say that he draws near to those who make peace with him. For God is the One who brings about peace; and where else should peace dwell than in peace?

Love works in a circle, for the beloved moves the lover by stamping a likeness, and the lover then goes out to hold the beloved inreality. Who first was the beginning now becomes the end of motion.

All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said has its origin in the Spirit.

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.

It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men who devote their lives to contemplation.

Faith does not quench desire, but inflames it.

If a thing can be done adequately by means of one, it is superfluous to do it by means of several; for we observe that nature does not employ two instruments [if] one suffices.

There is, therefore, a more perfect intellectual life in the angels. In them the intellect does not proceed to self-knowledge from anything exterior, but knows itself through itself.

God should not be called an individual substance, since the principle of individuation is matter.

It must be said that charity can, in no way, exist along with mortal sin.

Nothing which implies contradiction falls under the omnipotence of God.

When fear is excessive it can make many a man despair.

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.

The existence of a prime mover- nothing can move itself; there must be a first mover. The first mover is called God.

Unbelief is the greatest of sins.

The greatness of the human being consists in this: that it is capable of the universe.

Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.

There is no leisure about politics.

He who does not embrace the teaching of the Church does not have the habit of faith.

Venial sin becomes mortal sin when one approves it as an end. . .

By the divine providence [animals] are intended for man's use... Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by killing or in any other way whatsoever.

There being an imminent danger for the faith, prelates must be questioned, even publicly, by their subjects.

Art is right reason in the doing of work.

If a man deliberately abstains from wine to such an extent that he does serious harm to his nature, he will not be free from blame.

The proper task of the Savior is that he is a savior; indeed, for this he came into the world: to seek and save what was lost.

Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory, Of His Flesh, the mystery sing; Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our Immortal King, Destined, for the world's redemption, From a noble Womb to spring.

Theology is taught by God, teaches God, and leads to God.

To the Everlasting Father, And the Son who made us free And the Spirit, God proceeding From them Each eternally, Be salvation, honour, blessing, Might and endless majesty.

The splendor of a soul in grace is so seductive that it surpasses the beauty of all created things.

O how unspeakable is this Sacrament which sets our affections ablaze with charity. ... It is the fulfillment of Christ's Mystical Body.

All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.

The servants of God...whether provoked by word or work, by keeping themselves tranquil and peaceful, evince a perfect nobleness of soul.

Baptism is the Sacrament of Faith. Now, dead faith does not suffice for salvation .. .Therefore, the Sacrament of Baptism cannot give salvation to a man whose will ... expels the form of faith.

Arrive at knowledge over small streamlets, and do not plunge immediately into the ocean, since progress must go from the easier to the more difficult.

I cannot understand how anyone conscious of mortal sin can laugh or be merry.

Grace renders us like God and a partaker of the divine nature.

This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win all the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.

The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in His divinity, assumed our nature, so that He, made man, might make men gods.

In the end, we know God as unknown.

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

We can open our hearts to God, but only with Divine help.

Any error about creation also leads to an error about God.

Man is closer to God according to his existence in grace than he is according to his existence in nature.

Wonder was the motive that led people to philosophy ... wonder is a kind of desire in knowledge. It is the cause of delight because it carries with it the hope of discovery.

There must be must be a first mover existing above all – and this we call God.

Love must precede hatred, and nothing is hated save through being contrary to a suitable thing which is loved. And hence it is that every hatred is caused by love.

The soul, which is the first principle of life, is not a body, but the act of a body; just as heat, which is the principle of calefaction, is not a body, but an act of a body.

Anger and the like are attributed to God on account of a similitude of effect. Thus, because to punish is properly the act of an angry man, God's punishment is metaphorically spoken of as His anger.