To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.
Thomas AquinasRead
We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be our teachers and guides.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We require guidance and enlightenment from higher beings, akin to children needing teachers.
In this quote, Thomas Aquinas emphasizes the necessity of guidance and wisdom in our lives. Just as children rely on their teachers for knowledge and direction, humans depend on divine beings such as angels to enlighten and guide them on their journey through life. This suggests a belief in the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding through higher authorities.
Themes
GuidanceWisdomKnowledgeAngelsEducationLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about seeking divine guidance, this quote can highlight the role of faith.
More from Thomas Aquinas
All quotes →Law is nothing other than a certain ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the person who has the care of the community.
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Now this relaxation of the mind from work consists on playful words or deeds. Therefore it becomes a wise and virtuous man to have recourse to such things at times.
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A song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice.
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To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
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Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.
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