35 Timeless Thomas Aquinas Quotes on Wisdom and Virtue

Few minds have shaped Western thought as profoundly as Thomas Aquinas. His contributions to philosophy and theology offer profound insights into wisdom, virtue, and the nature of existence. Dive into this collection of his most powerful sayings, designed to inspire clarity and deeper reflection in your daily life.

Thomas Aquinas Quotes on Wisdom and Knowledge

"Hold firmly that our faith is not opposed to reason."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This quote encourages the integration of rational inquiry with spiritual belief, asserting that truth found through logic complements faith.

"To love is to will the good of another."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This defines love not as a passive feeling, but as an active commitment of the will focused on the welfare and betterment of the beloved.

"The highest perfection of a man is to know God."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It highlights that true human fulfillment is achieved through intellectual and spiritual knowledge of the ultimate reality.

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

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This links freedom directly to reason, suggesting that the capacity for rational thought is what allows for genuine moral agency and choice.

"If, then, the ultimate end of man is happiness, it is necessary that he should know the truth."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It establishes truth-seeking as a prerequisite for achieving lasting happiness, grounding bliss in understanding.

"Reason in man is rather like God in the world."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This elevates human reason, suggesting it acts as a guiding principle and ordering force within the individual, mirroring divine order in creation.

"The knowledge of the truth is a great good."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: A simple affirmation of the inherent value and benefit of intellectual pursuit and factual accuracy.

"One does not pass from ignorance to knowledge by a leap."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This emphasizes that learning and understanding require a process, advocating for methodical and step-by-step inquiry.

"Whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This profound epistemological statement explains that our ability to grasp and interpret information is limited or shaped by our existing capacity and state of being.

"The greatest kindness one can render to any man is to lead him from error to truth."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It frames the correction of intellectual or philosophical mistakes as the ultimate act of charity toward others.

"Man has a natural desire to know."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This is a foundational premise of his philosophy, asserting that curiosity and the quest for understanding are intrinsic to human nature.

"Better to illuminate than merely to shine."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This distinguishes between mere personal brilliance (shining) and the active dispersal of knowledge and understanding to others (illuminating).

Best Thomas Aquinas Quotes on Faith and Virtue

"Happiness is the reward of virtue."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This links enduring happiness directly to the practice of moral excellence and virtuous living.

"Temperance is the disposition of the mind which sets bounds to the passions."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This defines temperance as the internal mental discipline necessary to moderate and control emotional impulses.

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It values deep, authentic human connection as one of life's most precious and necessary goods.

"All that is true, by whomsoever it has been said, is from the Holy Spirit."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This universalizes truth, implying that validity and insight should be recognized regardless of the source, attributing all truth to divine origin.

"We can’t have too much faith."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: A simple encouragement toward increasing reliance on spiritual certainty and trust in the divine.

"The only way to achieve true human freedom is to know God and to obey His laws."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This posits that genuine freedom is found not in license, but in aligning oneself with moral and divine order.

"No man can live without pleasure; that is why the man who has no spiritual pleasures turns to the carnal."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It explains the universal need for gratification, suggesting that a lack of higher, spiritual joys leads to an over-reliance on lower, bodily pleasures.

"Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: A powerful metaphor defining hope as an active, motivating force born out of dissatisfaction with the status quo and the boldness to change it.

"A strictly philosophical science of morality is possible."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This defends the ability of human reason and philosophy to derive comprehensive ethical systems independently of religious 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."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This summarizes the requirements for a virtuous life in terms of intellectual belief, focused desire, and moral action.

"The essence of law is reason, acting for the common good."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This provides a definition of just law, emphasizing that legislation must be rational and aimed at the benefit of the entire community.

Inspiring Thomas Aquinas Quotes on Love and Happiness

"The things that we love tell us what we are."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This suggests that our deepest affections and desires serve as a defining indicator of our character and moral identity.

"The grace of God is better than a thousand pleasures."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It contrasts the fleeting satisfaction of earthly pleasures with the superior, eternal joy provided by divine favor.

"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: A surprisingly practical quote acknowledging the role of basic physical comfort and self-care in managing emotional distress.

"How can a man be happy without health?"

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This highlights the essential role of physical well-being as a necessary precondition for experiencing true joy or fulfillment.

"The principal act of the will is love."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This emphasizes that love is the primary function and most important action achievable through human volition.

"Charity is the source of all Christian perfection."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: It identifies charity (selfless love for God and neighbor) as the highest virtue and the foundation upon which all other virtues rest.

"Man should not consider his material possessions as his own, but as common to all."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This advocates for a communal view of wealth and resources, promoting generosity and social responsibility.

"A perfect thing is that which lacks nothing of the mode of its perfection."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This provides a philosophical definition of perfection, meaning something is complete when it fully realizes its potential and purpose.

"God is not the author of sin."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: A theological statement clarifying that evil and moral faults originate in created beings through misuse of free will, not directly from the Creator.

"If happiness is an operation according to perfect virtue, it must be an operation according to the highest virtue, which is wisdom."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This definitively links ultimate happiness to the exercise of the highest intellectual and moral capacity—wisdom.

"Fear is not a cause of virtue, but only a condition."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This suggests that while fear may prompt avoidance of wrong action, it is genuine positive motivation (the love of good) that constitutes true virtue.

"The most efficacious kind of prayer is that which is directed towards the common good."

Author: Thomas Aquinas

Benefit: This instructs believers on effective prayer, emphasizing that requests made for the benefit of the community hold greater spiritual weight.

The timeless wisdom of Thomas Aquinas continues to challenge us to seek truth, practice virtue, and understand the deep connection between reason and faith. We hope these powerful quotes serve as a constant source of inspiration as you navigate your own journey toward knowledge and happiness.