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The meaning of what is said is according to the motive for saying it: because things are not subject to speech, but speech to things. Therefore we should take account of the motive of the lawgiver, rather than of his very words.

Thomas Aquinas

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Thomas Aquinas
Age: 49 †
Born: 1225
Born: February 1
Died: 1274
Died: March 14
Dominican Friar
Philosopher
Priest
Professor
Roman Catholic Priest
Theologian
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas
Tommaso d'Aquino
Thomas of Aquino
St Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas
Take
Subject
Things
Speech
Therefore
Meaning
Lawgiver
Subjects
Motive
Saying
Account
Rather
According
Words
Accounts

More quotes by Thomas Aquinas

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Secondly, man sins against nature when he goes against his generic nature, that is to say, his animal nature. Now, it is evident that, in accord with natural order, the union of the sexes among animals is ordered towards conception. From this it follows that every sexual intercourse that cannot lead to conception is opposed to man's animal nature.
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Now it seems that everything in the world stems from sources other than God, since the products of nature have their source in nature deliberate effects can be traced back to human reason or will as their source. There is no need then to assume that God exists.
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If someone knows from experience that daily Communion increases fervor without lessening reverence, then let him go every day. But if someone finds that reverence is lessened and devotion not much increased, then let him sometimes abstain, so as to draw near afterwards with better dispositions.
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Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious.
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The knowledge of God is the cause of things. For the knowledge of God is to all creatures what the knowledge of the artificer is to things made by his art.
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One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.
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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.
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Justice is in subjects as well as in rulers.
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Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.
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Faith does not quench desire, but inflames it.
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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.
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If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.
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We should love others truly, for their own sakes rather than our own.
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Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, every creed. In fact Angels have no religion as we know it... Their existence precedes every religious system that has ever existed on Earth.
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The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists in leading him from error to truth.
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Whatever is received is received according to the nature of the recipient.
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To restore man, who had been laid low by sin, to the heights of divine glory, the Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small. This He did not by putting aside His greatness but by taking to Himself our littleness.
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The soul is like an uninhabited world that comes to life only when God lays His head against us.
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Reason in man is rather like God in the world.
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If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.
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