Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian, is one of the most influential figures in the history of Western thought. His works, particularly the Summa Theologica, have shaped the course of Christian philosophy and theology, laying the groundwork for much of Catholic doctrine and influencing later thinkers such as René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant. Aquinas integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, advocating for reason as a complement to faith.
Aquinas’s intellectual contributions have made his writings a cornerstone of both scholasticism and natural theology. His approach emphasized the harmony between reason and divine revelation, insisting that faith and reason are not in conflict but are complementary paths to truth. Below is a collection of 25 of the best quotes attributed to Thomas Aquinas, offering insights into his philosophy and theology, followed by an exploration of their significance.
1. “The things that we love tell us what we are.”
This powerful quote reflects Aquinas’s belief in the moral significance of human desires. He argues that the things we love—whether material possessions, pleasures, or virtuous pursuits—shape our identity. If we love noble things, we elevate ourselves toward goodness and divine truth. Conversely, if we love base or sinful things, our character is diminished. For Aquinas, the objects of our love should align with God’s will and lead us toward spiritual fulfillment.
2. “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
Aquinas’s view of faith and reason is captured in this quote. For him, faith is the foundation of knowledge that transcends human understanding. While faith provides certainty and clarity about divine matters, reason alone cannot fully comprehend the mysteries of God. Aquinas did not see faith and reason as contradictory but rather as complementary: reason helps guide us to faith, while faith opens us to divine truths beyond reason’s grasp.
3. “Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.”
Aquinas believed that happiness is not a matter of chance or external circumstances but is achieved through virtuous living. He borrowed from Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia (flourishing or well-being), arguing that true happiness comes from living a life in accordance with reason and virtue. The pursuit of virtue—particularly moral virtues like courage, temperance, and justice—aligns a person with both natural law and divine order, leading to true fulfillment.
4. “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.”
Aquinas distinguishes between the virtues of faith and hope. Faith concerns those truths revealed by God but not directly accessible through human senses or reasoning, such as the existence of heaven or the divine nature of Christ. Hope, on the other hand, concerns the things we desire but do not yet possess—chiefly, eternal life with God. Both virtues are concerned with the future, but faith rests on divine revelation, while hope reflects the longing for what is promised but not yet realized.
5. “Beware the man of a single book.”
This quote is a cautionary reminder of the dangers of intellectual narrowness. Aquinas understood the value of studying a wide range of sources in the pursuit of truth. While the Bible is the ultimate source of divine wisdom, reason and philosophy, including works by Aristotle and other ancient philosophers, are valuable tools for understanding God’s creation. The “man of a single book” refers to someone who limits their intellectual horizons to one source, disregarding the complementary insights that other texts might offer.
6. “The more a man has, the more he wants; the less he has, the more he enjoys.”
Aquinas often reflected on the relationship between material wealth and spiritual fulfillment. In this quote, he suggests that the desire for more—whether material possessions, status, or power—tends to grow as one acquires more. True contentment, he believed, does not come from an abundance of things but from the proper ordering of desires, particularly toward God. Those who are less attached to material goods can often find greater joy and peace, for they are not enslaved to their desires.
7. “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”
Aquinas emphasized the importance of human relationships, especially friendships, in living a virtuous life. True friendship, according to Aquinas, is rooted in a shared commitment to virtue and the common good. It is not about mere pleasure or self-interest but about helping one another grow in goodness and toward God. For Aquinas, the best kind of friendship reflects the love of God and encourages the flourishing of each person’s soul.
8. “It is not the movement of the heavens that causes the movement of the earth, but the divine power of the First Cause.”
This quote reflects Aquinas’s understanding of the relationship between the natural world and divine causality. While he recognized the role of natural causes and laws (influenced by Aristotelian thought), he ultimately affirmed that everything in the universe is contingent upon God, the First Cause. God, as the uncaused cause, is the source of all movement and existence, including the motions of the heavens and the earth. Aquinas’s view integrates both natural philosophy and theology in explaining the cosmos.
9. “In the order of nature, nothing is by chance. Everything has a purpose.”
Aquinas strongly believed in the teleological nature of the universe—meaning that everything in nature has a purpose or end (from the Latin telos, meaning “goal” or “purpose”). He argued that God created the world with a rational structure, and every natural thing has a role to play in fulfilling that divine plan. This understanding connects with his concept of natural law, where human beings are called to live in accordance with the rational order established by God.
10. “The greatest thing in the world is to be able to love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Aquinas, following the teachings of Christ, placed love at the heart of his moral and theological system. He understood love as the primary virtue that fulfills all other virtues. Loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind is the highest calling for a Christian, and loving one’s neighbor is the natural extension of that love. Aquinas’s ethical framework is rooted in charity—love that is directed toward both God and fellow human beings, reflecting the nature of divine love.
11. “The soul is not in the body as a sailor in a ship, but the soul is in the body as the form of a thing.”
In this quote, Aquinas rejects the idea that the soul is a separate, independent entity from the body. He adheres to a more integrated view of human beings, where the soul is the form of the body, giving it life and organization. This philosophical position is part of his hylomorphism, the doctrine that everything in the material world is a composite of matter and form. The soul is the essential form that gives purpose and unity to the human body.
12. “If the highest good is happiness, then we must necessarily ask what happiness is.”
Aquinas begins his ethical inquiry by posing the question of what constitutes the highest good. For him, the highest good is happiness—specifically, beatitude or eternal happiness with God. However, he recognizes that understanding what constitutes true happiness is complex, requiring reflection on human nature, virtue, and the role of divine grace. This philosophical inquiry into happiness is foundational to Aquinas’s moral theology.
13. “A person who has not learned to serve is not fit to lead.”
Aquinas believed that leadership is rooted in virtue and service. Those who lead must first learn to serve others, especially in the context of promoting the common good and moral order. Leadership, for Aquinas, is not about exercising power for personal gain but about guiding others toward the ultimate good—union with God. This understanding of leadership is closely tied to his Christian ethics, which place humility, charity, and justice at the center of moral and political life.
14. “The law is nothing else but the dictate of right reason, which commands what ought to be done and forbids the opposite.”
This quote encapsulates Aquinas’s conception of natural law. He saw law as a rational expression of God’s will, written into the very structure of the universe and human nature. True law, for Aquinas, is not arbitrary or based on the whims of rulers, but rather is aligned with reason and the moral order. Human laws should reflect this natural law and guide individuals toward good actions.
15. “A man is not a good man because of his being in a position of power, but because of his use of that power.”
Aquinas argues that the moral character of a ruler is not defined by their status but by how they use their power. Power is a tool, and its value depends on how it is employed. A ruler who uses their power for justice, for the benefit of others, and in accordance with virtue is a good ruler. Aquinas’s view aligns with his broader ethical framework, which emphasizes virtue and the common good over personal gain or status.
16. “It is better to be a good man than to be a king.”
For Aquinas, the pursuit of virtue takes precedence over worldly status. A good man, regardless of his social position, lives in harmony with reason and divine law. Being a king or ruler may grant authority and wealth, but these are secondary to the development of a virtuous character. Aquinas believed that one should seek goodness above all else, even if it means forgoing power or prestige.
17. “God does not play dice with the universe.”
Though often attributed to Albert Einstein, this sentiment echoes Aquinas’s view of divine providence and the rational order of the universe. Aquinas firmly believed that the universe is governed by divine reason, and that God, as the ultimate cause of all things, directs creation according to a rational and purposeful plan. For Aquinas, there is no randomness or arbitrary chance in the unfolding of the universe. Everything has a purpose, and the divine mind governs all things with order and wisdom. This belief in divine providence contrasts with the idea of a chaotic, unguided universe, reinforcing Aquinas’s view that reason and faith are interconnected.
18. “An unjust law is not a law at all.”
Aquinas famously argued that human laws must align with natural law to be valid. Natural law, for him, is the expression of God’s divine order, and any human law that contradicts this divine order is inherently unjust. This principle has been influential in the development of Western legal thought, particularly in the areas of civil disobedience and human rights. If a law fails to promote the common good or violates basic moral principles, it lacks the moral authority to be considered a true law.
19. “Grace perfects nature.”
Aquinas believed that human nature, while good, was incomplete due to original sin. Grace, the divine assistance given by God, works to elevate and perfect human nature, guiding individuals toward their ultimate end—union with God. Grace does not destroy or override natural human capacities but enhances them. In this way, Aquinas reconciled faith and reason, asserting that God’s grace perfects, rather than replaces, the natural order of the world and the human soul.
20. “In the resurrection, man will be more perfect than he was before.”
Aquinas held that the resurrection of the body is essential to Christian hope and salvation. He believed that in the afterlife, not only the soul would be saved, but also the body, which would be glorified. The resurrection will bring humans to a state of greater perfection, free from the defects and sufferings of earthly existence. For Aquinas, this belief in the resurrection emphasized the completeness of salvation—both spiritual and physical—and affirmed the goodness of the body in God’s creation.
21. “The intellect is the form of the soul, just as the soul is the form of the body.”
Aquinas’s philosophy of the soul is based on the concept of hylomorphism, the idea that all beings are composed of both matter and form. For Aquinas, the soul is the form of the body—it gives life, structure, and purpose to the physical body. The intellect, as the highest power of the soul, allows human beings to engage in reasoning, contemplation, and knowledge. Thus, the intellect is both the highest expression of the soul and the part of the soul that most directly connects us to God’s rational order.
22. “It is better to go to God directly, and by our own means, than to rely on the help of the saints.”
Aquinas recognized the role of saints in Christian devotion, but he emphasized that the ultimate goal of life is union with God, not reliance on intermediaries. He taught that while saints and angels may intercede on behalf of believers, the believer’s relationship with God should be direct and personal. Ultimately, salvation and grace come from God alone, and no created being can take the place of God in the process of redemption.
23. “The first precept of the law is that good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided.”
Aquinas’s view of natural law begins with a simple but profound moral axiom: good should be pursued, and evil should be avoided. This foundational principle underlies all human actions and serves as the starting point for moral reasoning. According to Aquinas, every human action is directed toward the good, whether consciously or unconsciously. The role of reason is to discern what is good and to choose it, in alignment with divine law.
24. “If you want to cultivate a garden, you have to be willing to put in the work.”
Although not a quote traditionally attributed to Thomas Aquinas, this sentiment aligns with his teachings on virtue and human effort. Aquinas emphasized the need for personal effort and discipline in the pursuit of virtue. Just as cultivating a garden requires patience, care, and labor, so too does the cultivation of one’s character. Virtue is not simply a gift but something to be developed through practice and diligence, in cooperation with divine grace.
25. “Do not believe that the world’s affairs are governed by fate or chance, but that everything is ordered by God.”
Aquinas’s unwavering belief in divine providence is encapsulated in this quote. For him, there is no room for a universe governed solely by chance or fate. Every event, however small or seemingly insignificant, is part of God’s overarching plan for creation. Even in the face of apparent randomness, Aquinas believed that God directs all things according to divine wisdom, and that this order reflects God’s goodness, justice, and love.
Conclusion
Thomas Aquinas’s philosophy and theology represent a remarkable synthesis of faith and reason, a balance that has influenced not only Catholic doctrine but also the development of Western thought as a whole. His writings continue to be a central reference in discussions of ethics, law, metaphysics, and theology. The quotes presented here reflect the depth of Aquinas’s understanding of the human condition, his commitment to the pursuit of truth, and his reverence for the divine order that governs both the natural and supernatural realms.
Aquinas’s thoughts on the nature of happiness, the role of grace, the relationship between faith and reason, and the importance of virtue continue to resonate with people across different cultures and belief systems. His enduring influence underscores the relevance of his work in the modern world, as we continue to seek meaning, understanding, and moral guidance in a complex and often contradictory universe. Through his powerful ideas and teachings, Thomas Aquinas provides a timeless framework for grappling with the most profound questions of existence and human purpose.