Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P., was an Italian Dominican friar, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the Church. He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the Doctor Angelicus and the Doctor Communis. The name Aquinas identifies his ancestral origins in the county of Aquino in present-day Lazio, where his family held land until 1137...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionTheologian
CountryItaly
men merit action
All men are equal in nature, and also in original sin. It is in the merits and demerits of their actions that they differ.
christian believe sacred
...[sacred] doctrine is especially based upon arguments from authority, inasmuch as its principles are obtained by revelation: thus we ought to believe on the authority of those to whom the revelation has been made. Nor does this take away from the dignity of this doctrine, for although the argument from authority based on human reason is the weakest, yet the argument from authority based on divine revelation is the strongest.
church authority jealously
The custom of the Church has very great authority and ought to be jealously observed in all things.
principles different creatures
God is not related to creatures as though belonging to a different "genus," but as transcending every "genus," and as the principle of all "genera.
desire doe quench
Faith does not quench desire, but inflames it.
powerful grieving saint
As the saints will rejoice in all goods, so will the damned grieve for all goods.
men needs this-life
The happy man in this life needs friends.
thinking compassion gains
I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it. I would hope to act with compassion without thinking of personal gain.
thanksgiving passion justice
It would seem that the ingratitude, whereby a subsequent sin causes the return of sins previously forgiven, is a special sin. For, the giving of thanks belongs to counter passion, which is a necessary condition of justice. But justice is a special virtue. Therefore this ingratitude is a special sin. Thanksgiving is a special virtue. But ingratitude is opposed to thanksgiving. Therefore ingratitude is a special sin.
deny
Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.
love knowing doe
For loving draws us more to things than knowing does, since good is found by going to the thing, whereas the true is found when the thing comes to us.
soul taught ransom
I receive Thee ransom of my soul. For love of Thee have I studied and kept vigil toiled preached and taught…
moving firsts prime
The existence of a prime mover- nothing can move itself; there must be a first mover. The first mover is called God.
mean two evil
It seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the word "God" means that He is infinite goodness. If, therefore, God existed, there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist.