Saint Thomas Aquinas
The highest manifestation of life consists in this: that a being governs its own actions. A thing which is always subject to the direction of another is somewhat of a dead thing.
The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing.
That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell.
Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.
Sure, for all our blindness; secure, for all our helplessness; strong, for all our weakness; gaily in love, for all the pressures on our hearts.
Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.
Reason in man is rather like God in the world.
Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions, but regulates them.
Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace.
Now among all passions inflicted from without, death holds the first place, just as sexual concupiscences are chief among internal passions. Consequently, when a man conquers death and things directed to death, his is a most perfect victory.
Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious.
Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil.
Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason.
Moral science is better occupied when treating of friendship than of justice.
Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.
Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.
Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.
Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.
Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.
Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members; even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church.