Check out the best Thomas Aquinas quotes that reflect his wisdom on faith, reason, God, morality, and the search for truth.
Thomas Aquinas is one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in history, whose works shaped Christian thought and Western philosophy.
A Dominican friar and Catholic priest, he is best known for integrating faith with reason in ways that continue to inspire believers, scholars, and thinkers worldwide.
Often referred to as the “Doctor of the Church,” Aquinas sought to bridge the gap between philosophy and theology, employing logic and reason to explain and defend matters of faith.
His most famous work, Summa Theologica, explores the nature of God, morality, human purpose, and the relationship between divine law and human life.
Aquinas is also remembered for his groundbreaking “Five Ways,” five logical arguments for the existence of God that combined Aristotle’s philosophy with Christian belief.
His timeless words go beyond religion, offering insight into human nature, ethics, knowledge, and the pursuit of truth.
Here are the most famous Thomas Aquinas quotes that will inspire you to think deeper, live with integrity, and embrace the harmony of faith and reason.
Top 10 Thomas Aquinas Quotes
- “To love is to will the good of the other.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “The things that we love tell us what we are.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists in leading him from error to truth.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.” — 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.” — Thomas Aquinas
Best St. Thomas Aquinas Quotes On Life, Love, & Faith
- “The soul is known by its acts.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Beware of the person of one book.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “To love God is something greater than to know Him.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Nothing created has ever been able to fill the heart of man. God alone can fill it infinitely.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “God has no need for our worship. It is we who need to show our gratitude for what we have received.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “To pretend angels do not exist because they are invisible is to believe we never sleep because we don’t see ourselves sleeping.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.” — Thomas Aquinas
Famous Quotes By Thomas Aquinas
- “Wonder is the desire for knowledge.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Rarely affirm, seldom deny, always distinguish.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “There can be no joy in living without joy in work.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “To convert somebody, go and take them by the hand and guide them.” — St Thomas Aquinas
- “As the saints will rejoice in all goods, so will the damned grieve for all goods.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions, but regulates them.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Of all the pursuits open to men, the search for wisdom is most perfect, more sublime, more profitable, and more full of joy.” — Thomas Aquinas
- “Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.” — 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
- “When what is ordered by an authority is opposed to the object for which that authority was constituted…. not only is there no obligation to obey the authority, but one is obliged to disobey it, as did the holy martyrs who suffered death rather than obey the impious commands of tyrants.” — Thomas Aquinas
Conclusion
What are your favorite Thomas Aquinas quotes and Thomas Aquinas sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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