Averroes (Ibn Rushd)

Philosophy Al-Andalus (Spain) 1126 – 1198 102 quotes

Commentator on Aristotle who defended philosophy against religious orthodoxy, influencing medieval Europe.

Quotes by Averroes (Ibn Rushd)

The purpose of life is to know God and to worship Him.

The Decisive Treatise

The intellect is the highest form of existence.

Commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics

The true philosopher is one who seeks to understand the nature of reality.

Commentary on Plato's Republic

The happiness of man consists in the exercise of his intellect.

Commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

The intellect is the divine spark within us.

Commentary on Aristotle's De Anima

The world is a sign of God's existence and power.

The Decisive Treatise

The true knowledge is that which leads to virtue.

Attributed

The human being is a political animal.

Commentary on Aristotle's Politics

The world is a realm of change and becoming.

Commentary on Aristotle's Physics

The Law and philosophy are complementary, not contradictory.

The Decisive Treatise

The purpose of life is to achieve human perfection.

Commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Ignorance is the cause of all evils.

Tahafut al-Tahafut 1170

The law speaks too softly to be heard above the din of wrongdoing.

Bidayat al-Mujtahid 1180

Philosophy is the handmaid of theology.

Fasl al-Maqal 1160

To study philosophy is to seek truth.

Commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics 1175

The intellect is the divine light in man.

Long Commentary on De Anima 1190

Nature does nothing in vain.

Commentary on Physics 1165

Happiness is the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

Commentary on Nicomachean Ethics 1178

The world is eternal, as God is eternal.

Tahafut al-Tahafut 1185

Reason and revelation are twins.

Fasl al-Maqal 1162